SALISBURY – Mayor Pro Tem David Post, an attorney and businessman, recently completed the purchase of three buildings on South Main Street, including the Oestreicher building and Elizabeth Court, from Post Publishing Co., the former ownership group of the Salisbury Post.

A purchase price was not immediately provided. According to Post, the square footage of the properties total 40,000 to 50,000 square feet.

“There are tenants in two of them. Growing Pains is in one, and Sidewalk Deli is in the other,” Post said in an interview.

Growing Pains Consignment Shop sells clothing for women, men and children. Sidewalk Deli serves soups, salads and sandwiches.

Post is opening a candy store called Swiggle Sweets in the third building. Mike Miller, with Miller Davis Agency, is Post’s operating partner in Swiggle Sweets, while his children, Ari, Anna, and Sasha, are investment partners.

“I just think downtown Salisbury should just have a candy store. Quaint little towns like this should have businesses such as Swiggle Sweets,” Post said.

Post said he needs to complete electrical and plumbing work and place fixtures, shelving and counters in preparation for Swiggle Sweets to open.

Post said roofing needs to be replaced on the Oestreicher building and moisture damage needs to be repaired on the sublevel of Sidewalk Deli and Swiggle Sweets.

“It’s caused damage on three different levels because there has been a hole up there for at least five to seven years in the roof,” Post said.

Post said he wants all buildings downtown to be occupied and successful but there are some problems with conditions of downtown buildings because of neglect.

Post also stressed the importance of local ownership for downtown properties.

“I think local people care more. If these buildings had been locally owned, they would not be in such bad shape,” he said.

The goal is to find someone creative who would be interested in the buildings do something fun with them, said Post.

“I just want downtown to work. If I could … pass this on to someone who has the creative juices to do something important and good, I’d like to do that.” Post said.

While Post purchased the buildings from Post Publishing Co., the newspaper is now owned by Salisbury Newsmedia LLC, a subsidiary of Tuscaloosa, Alabama-based Boone Newspapers. Salisbury Newsmedia took ownership of the Post in 2014 after a sale by Evening Post Industries of Charleston, South Carolina.

David Post’s mother, Rose Post, was an award-winning and well-known writer at the Salisbury Post. His father, Eddie Post, owned downtown businesses for 40 years.