For more than 20 years, Paul Standing managed bars in other states.

“Now it’s time for me to own my own,” the new Wilmington resident said Thursday.

He recently bought The Whiskey, a bar and live music business on Front Street in downtown Wilmington, through a limited liability company he set up called Gemindigo Inc.

“The town is why I’m here,” Standing said. “I fell in love with Wilmington. It’s a great place.”

One of three bars in the 95-year-old building at 1 S. Front St., The Whiskey, will remain the same with no drastic changes, aside from some fresh paint, Standing said. He also emphasized that Alecia Mitchell is staying on as booking agent and head bartender.

The seller was Assy Inc. LLC, managed by Andrew Brothers, according to a name transfer document in New Hanover County deed records.

Gemindigo bought the business only, not the property, which has a different owner.

Christian Cardamone of Coastal Properties was one of the founders of The Whiskey in 2002 and served as the listing agent for the transaction, which involved an undisclosed amount.

“It’s a live music venue that’s been really supportive of local music in Wilmington since it started,” Cardamone said. “There’s been a handful of bands that have played there in the past that have gone on to be national acts.”

He said he’s sold several other bar businesses in the past two years. “I get excited about it because I’m invested in downtown and I love downtown, and I think seeing this kind of changing of the guard with some fresh blood and some new ideas and money … it shows that downtown is growing,” Cardamone said.

James Goodnight, son of billionaire SAS founder Jim Goodnight, bought the property for more than $1.3 million in January through Track Two Properties LLC, according to New Hanover County register of deeds documents. The seller was the estate of Frederick Matt, represented in that transaction by broker Steve Hall of Maus, Warwick, Matthews & Co.

A broker who works with James Goodnight, Brian Wallace of Raleigh-based York Properties Inc., said Goodnight has no immediate plans for the property, located at the corner of Market and Front streets.

“There’s no doubt the building probably could use some upgrades and probably exterior changes to bring back an historic look,” though any work of that type would be a future consideration, Wallace said.

Originally built in 1920, the building underwent improvements in 1970, according to county property tax records. The records also indicate that the three-story structure contains 10,350 square feet of space. In addition to The Whiskey, the building is also home to The River Rat and Goodfellas.  

James Goodnight also owns 21 S. Front St., a building he is rehabilitating to turn a large portion of it into the headquarters of Next Glass, a beer and wine app development company. The plan for the first floor of that historic building is to lease space to retail and office tenants, Wallace said. Goodnight bought the 21 S. Front St. building through Meetinghouse Properties LLC for $675,000.