The City of Newport is acquiring nine parcels on and adjacent to the 600 block of Monmouth Street, creating an opportunity to attract investment, improve public safety and guide the future of a strategically important section of downtown.
The $3.8 million acquisition includes the recently vacated properties formerly home to the Brass Bull, Brass Mule and Huddles. The purchase permanently ends adult-entertainment operations, addresses a long-standing concentration of public safety resources and gives Newport control of a strategic downtown block, creating an opportunity to close the significant investment gap between the northern and southern ends of Monmouth Street.
“This is an exciting step forward for Newport,” Mayor Tom Guidugli Jr. said. “We can close a long-standing reinvestment gap, strengthen the connection between surrounding developments and shape a future for this block that reflects the energy, character and optimism of our city.”
The city will purchase the nine-parcel site from Newport CRE LLC, a private real estate investment company that acquired the properties from prior owners for $3.5 million and assembled them into a single package. The City’s $3.8 million purchase price—a $300,000, or 8.6%, premium—secured the entire site in a single transaction and included approximately $50,000 in survey, environmental due-diligence, and legal costs, while avoiding the added cost, risk, and uncertainty of acquiring the parcels separately and positioning the property for future redevelopment.
Closing a long-standing gap in downtown development
From April 2022 through July 2026, the parcels recorded no permitted private investment, creating a significant reinvestment gap within the Monmouth Street Business District. By comparison, other properties on the 600 block recorded approximately $435,000 in permitted investment, while several surrounding blocks attracted investments ranging from hundreds of thousands of dollars to more than $2 million. The larger, unified property also provides greater flexibility for design, financing and construction, making it more attractive for high-quality private redevelopment.
Strengthening public safety citywide
Since 2021, police have been dispatched to the properties 1,214 times, including calls involving fights, assaults, and reports of shots fired. The city conservatively estimates that this concentration of activity creates an annual public-safety burden of approximately $54,000. The 1,214 calls do not include the additional personnel and resources devoted to dedicated patrol details and undercover operations.
“This acquisition allows Newport to take a proactive approach to public safety and quality of life,” City Manager John Hayden said. “Guiding these properties toward safer and more productive uses will help reduce continuing demands on our police officers and allow more resources to be directed toward community policing across Newport.”
A new era for Monmouth Street
Prior to vacating, The Brass Bull and Brass Mule were permitted to continue operating because they predated Newport’s current regulations for adult-oriented businesses. Neither location meets the city’s requirement that such businesses be at least 2,000 feet from a school, and current zoning standards prevent either business from relocating elsewhere within Newport’s Central Business District.
The agreements also transfer the trade names Brass Ass, Brass Bull, Brass Mule and Huddles to the purchaser to prevent their use in future business operations.
The site is designated for mixed use within the Central Business District and is part of the Monmouth Street National Historic District. Its location provides an opportunity for redevelopment that respects Newport’s traditional main street character while introducing new uses that support residents, businesses and visitors.
“This investment opens a new era for Monmouth Street,” Mayor Tom Guidugli said. “By improving public safety and positioning this key block for private redevelopment, we are building a stronger downtown and a better quality of life for every Newport resident.”
City of Newport