Professional athletes team up to buy Mid City building

Baton Rouge native and former NFL player Anthony Kimble, now a business consultant, has acquired the building at 4242 Government St., along with former LSU athlete Tyrus Thomas, and plans to turn the property into shared space for artists, architects and other creative professionals. “This has been a dream of mine since moving back to Baton Rouge last year,” says Kimble, who went to high school at LSU Lab. “We want to really focus on developing shared creative space for artists in the community, and this is the perfect neighborhood for the type of tenant we want to attract.” Joining Kimble and Thomas—who is currently with the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats—in the venture is Glen “Big Baby” Davis, also a former LSU basketball star, now with the Orlando Magic. Though Davis will not have an ownership stake in the building, he will be involved in its redevelopment with his two high-school buddies. Already, the three have several shared business and charitable ventures together. The renovation of 4242 Government St., which Kimble and Thomas acquired Monday for $400,000 from the owners of the soon-to-be-shuttered Bible and Book Center, is their latest endeavor. Kimble says the renovation should take about six months and says the space should be ready by the end of the year. In addition to several creative suites, the building will house Kimble’s consulting business, Aoot Branding & Management, as well as foundations that both Thomas and Davis have created to help inner-city youth. Says Kimble: “We want to be part of moving Baton Rouge forward.” —Stephanie Riegel