Sep 2, 2016 4 min read

For a number of years, Quail Acres has offered shoppers a quiet place to look for unusual items and access a variety of services in one of Washington County’s most unique retail settings, the former Quail farm.

The Quail farmhouse, built in 1837 by William McAlpine Quail, has since 2009 housed Palazzo 1837 Ristorante, a fine-dining venue featuring northern and southern Italian dishes, including steaks, seafood, pasta and veal entrees.

More recently, the shops came under the ownership of a group that includes Palazzo 1837 owners Matt and Susanne Sager. The Sagers, who are minority partners in the ownership group, have taken on the additional responsibilities of property managers for the site.

“Maintaining the property is crucial because of its historic aspect,” said Matt Sager, who has several projects under way around the site.

Originally called Mulberry Hill in the 1700s, the property, which was designated a Washington County historic landmark in 1991, was originally purchased in 1811 by William Quail, a highly successful farmer and stockbroker from County Down Patrick in Ireland.

Quail’s property originally included 147 acres, which he passed on to his son, who built the Palladian-style farmhouse that houses Palazzo 1837.

The current Quail property stands at 4.5 acres, but retains its bucolic setting for people who want to enjoy a leisurely lunch or dinner or stroll among the 11 shops, which range from coffee and tea to beauty and pet-related services, to an “escape room” attraction that will open in mid-September.

Some of the Quail Acres shops are located within the pre-Civil War-era barn on the property, which recently received a new coat of red paint and a 100-square-foot white stencil “Shoppes at Quail Acres” that can be seen by passing motorists – one of several projects aimed at maintaining the site’s historic nature.

Matt Sager said he is also in the process of restoring all 40 shutters at Quail Mansion this year.

While he isn’t sure when the shutters were originally installed, “they’re at least pre-1900s,” he said. While some were beyond repair, Sager said they hired a custom cabinetmaker to make new ones out of wood, then sealed all of them with a heavy oil-based paint. He also sandblasted the original hardware and repainted it.

“Within the next couple of years, we’ll do a new paint theme for all of the outbuildings,” he said.

In addition to keeping the historic appearance of the grounds in top shape, the Sagers have responsibility for finding new tenants at the site, with Matt currently talking with several different retailers interested in renting a vacant shop.

There’s a good reason for the interest.

Today, the Quail Acres site receives visitors from the tri-state region and beyond, including many Canadians, Susanne Sager said.

Noting the site’s border with Route 19, Racetrack Road and the traffic it brings from Interstate 79 just a mile away, the Sagers said they receive visitors from The Meadows Casino and Tanger Outlets, as well as a dozen hotels.

While the site’s location is prime for benefiting from the commercial activities around it, its historic nature and specialty retail niche makes it right for these times, according to one industry expert.

Dr. Audrey Guskey, associate professor of marketing at Duquesne University, who follows regional and national retail trends, said the uniqueness of the Quail Acres site gives it a big advantage in the current state of flux in bricks-and-mortar retail and consumer sentiment.

“People want to save money on clothes and groceries, but are willing to spend on specialty items,” she said, adding Quail Acres’ shops, its fine-dining restaurant and landmark status combine to make it a destination.

“It’s a property where you can relax and get away from the hustle and bustle,” Susanne Sager said.