Two men from Wisconsin and Florida hope to buy the former McCrory's five-and-10 in downtown Altoona for a comedy club, said Center City coordinator Bob Scholl and Greater Altoona Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Patrick Miller.

They've signed a sales agreement to buy the property from First National Bank, said lawyer Betsy Dupuis of State College.

Scholl declined to name the men.

A businessman provided the first names of the entrepreneurs and a phone number, but they didn't return a phone message.

First National acquired it through Omega Bank, a predecessor, at a sheriff sale last year after the bankruptcy of the Kaufman family, which owned the building along with Kaufman's Wedding World across the street.

Told of the plans, Shirley's Shoes owner Sam Scheinberg held his hands up, palms out, and bowed twice, in "open sesame" fashion.

"Please, please, we need a comedy club," Scheinberg said. "I hope it's true."

Michael Rickard, proprietor of Michael's Cafe, said, "If it happens, it's a great idea."

A successful comedy club would help downtown begin to match the vision of city and economic development officials as a "hot spot" for entertainment, Rickard said.

The McCrory building on the west side of 11th Avenue near 13th Street has been empty for more than a decade.

The McCrory building has three floors, plate glass frontage on the first floor, a concrete facade with smaller windows on the upper floors and brick sidewalls.

A peek into the building showed the first floor is cleared and open.

Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler can be reached at 949-7038.