The owner of the former Indian Head Bank, a downtown landmark that has been vacant about 18 months, put the building on the market earlier this month.

Brady Sullivan Properties bought the 146 Main St. site last November as part of a total $11.5 million commercial real estate portfolio that also included properties in Concord and Manchester.

Now the company has the building that is considered a focal point of downtown/Main Street up for sale or lease, with a preference to sell.

"Filling that building up is definitely something we have our eyes on," city Economic Development Director Thomas Galligani said Monday.

"It is such a key building downtown and there are some very interesting possible uses for that building," Galligani added.

The former Indian Head Bank at the corner of Main and Temple streets once was home to Hamblett & Kerrigan Law Firm and the firm’s sign still hangs prominently from its front facade, even though the law firm relocated to Route 101A in May 2014.

People’s United Bank was the most recent tenant, but vacated the property about 18 months ago, Galligani said.

Given the building’s "gracious architecture" and interior layout, he said there are many promising potential uses for the site.

They include office space and converting it to apartments. The building’s elegant lobby also could lend itself to some sort of arts center, he said. The site would also be suitable for a restaurant even though there already are a large number of dining establishments downtown.

"People will come far and wide if it’s a good restaurant," he said.

Charles Panasis, Brady Sullivan Properties director of commercial real rstate, did not return a call for comment Monday.

Brady Sullivan announced this month it bought about a half million square feet of commercial and industrial space in Hudson and Nashua in the last two months. The purchases were part of a total 1 million square feet in commercial and industrial space in Greater Nashua, Concord and Manchester.

The Manchester-based real estate firm said the move would give it a greater presence in southern New Hampshire.

Panasis at the time said most of the properties – several of which are large office buildings on Route 101A – already had tenants.

Kathryn Marchocki can be reached at 594-6589, kmarchocki@nashuatelegraph.com, or @Telegraph_KMar.