A lone bid from a private investor Monday sealed the sale of the building that housed the former Iron Skillet Restaurant.

&#8220There were a couple of restaurant chains looking at it, but they just couldn’t get their deals together,” Realtor Jim Bullington said.

Bullington said the Bowling Green investor wanted to remain anonymous because he plans to resell the building to someone else. It will be 45 days or so before a deed is filed and the name becomes public.

The investor also bought many of the large pieces of restaurant equipment at the auction, so he would probably be reselling the building for a restaurant, Bullington said.

The building went for $642,000 – less than half the $1.5 million it took the owner, David Towell, to construct the building about four years ago.

Local restaurant owners were there to pick at the remains and buy what they could, even though the hundred or so people who showed up made prices substantially higher with various bidding wars.

Notables in the crowd included Mariah’s owner Rick Kelley, Chaney’s Dairy Barn co-owner Deborah Chaney, and Bert Snyder, who recently opened Smokehouse Barbecue on U.S. 31-W By-Pass.

Iron Skillet closed in mid-October after Towell’s health problems took their toll on running the business.

Prior to the location at 175 Iron Skillet Court, which is near Cracker Barrel, Yuki’s Japanese restaurant, Culvers and other eateries, an Iron Skillet was near the airport for more than 25 years, Bullington said.

Two years into operating at its newer location, Towell’s partner, Robert Dawson, left the business, leaving Towell to handle running the restaurant on his own.

On Monday, a little more than 200 items went up for auction, ranging from the sound system to the restaurant’s salt and pepper shakers.

&#8220It’s kind of sad, to be honest,” said Chaney, who bought an iron stand and wooden bookcase. &#8220From a business standpoint, it’s sad to see a business go out of business. The few times I came here, it was good service and good food.”

Mike Levent, president and owner of Nashville-based Best in Town Restaurant Equipment Sales and Service, was there to buy equipment.

&#8220There was really high-quality equipment – a lot of top brands that were of five-star quality,” Levent said.

Two iron gates were among Snyder’s purchases.

&#8220It was a shame that it closed, but that’s what happens …” Snyder said. &#8220It comes to an end.”