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Hazard: Century To Demolish Portion Of Old Store Owned By Town
June 8, 2011
Worried that it is a hazard and a code violation, the Town of Century is once again exploring options for an abandoned building owned by the town.
In October 2008, the Century Town Council voted to explore tearing down the building on Mayo Street because they believed there was little chance of repairing the structure.
The white, mostly brick building at 7601 Mayo Street (across from the old hospital) housed doctors’ offices and even a pharmacy and soda fountain years ago. It has been abandoned for several years and is in an obvious state of disrepair with roof and structural problems.
The town council’s actions in 2008 came after a comment posted on NorthEscambia.com pointed out that the building was in obvious violation of the codes and ordinances about to be enforced by the town.
“The town of Century itself needs to do some enforcing of their own property before the town council deems others in town to be a disgrace. I was visiting the pharmacy on Mayo street and noticed that the town of Century has let the “old” pharmacy building go into total disrepair,” a NorthEscambia.com reader commented on a September 26, 2008, story about Century discussing code enforcement options with Escambia County.”The town must set the example don’t you think? Just as parents do their children.”
“I’m sure you’ve read on NorthEscambia.com that people think we need to clean up our own,” Council member Ann Brooks told the council in October 2008.
Fast forward to June 2011…Mayor Freddie McCall told the town council Monday night that the front, two-story portion of the old building will have to come down. He said that once that is done, he wants to install a new wall to create a front for the metal part of the building. He said he will get a preliminary estimate and then bid out the project.
Pictured above: Town of Century will tear down the two story portion of this building owned by the town at 7601 Mayo Street. Pictured below: The interior of the building just inside the front door as seen in October 2008.NorthEscambia.com photos.
Comments
15 Responses to “Hazard: Century To Demolish Portion Of Old Store Owned By Town”
Not many people recall that between the time it was a drugstore/doctors’ offices and a soda shop, it was a Christian bookstore: Century Bible Book Store. This was during 1976-77. A grand opening drawing was held and Andy Lewis was the recipient of a large family Bible.
Many fond memories of the Drug Store and Doctor Offices located in the Century Pharmacy. I worked the soda fountain for 2/3 years in the 50s. From the picture it appears as if the building is about to drop.
George “Andy” Hammond
this makes me sad, had many many funny, happy memories with my dad Andy Lewis here,,,,so sweet to hear him mentioned in the above comments…..:-(
I say we all pull together and restore the front part, this building is as a part of century as is the people who remember this building. I know when I was a kid it was something great to go to the drugstore and get a drink or ice cream, I believe if we just stop talking and start doing we will surprise ourselves.
Century Storage units would be good. The Town could profit from the units while helping the community. Their can be a lot done with the space to help the cities budget and the community. Town council just has to think outside the box. Two thumbs up to the Mayor for forward thinking.
I wish they’d consider turning it back into an arcade/soda fountain/gift shop the way it was when I was a teen. If you don’t want kids getting into trouble, they need a place to go. This would be a perfect opportunity to provide such a place….but sadly, they’ll tear it down along with all our memories and the kids will still be getting in trouble because they have nowhere else to go.
Awww……..dont tear it down.
Sad part is the front is really the only part worth saving. For historical value that is. Why save the metal building that was an attachment. If you can’t save the front tear the whole mess to the ground and clear it out. Just saying…there really is no value other than historical and it is an eye sore!
By the the way…miss you Dr. Stewart you were truly one of a kind!
Lots of memories associated with building. The pharmacy and soda fountain, Andy Lewis, J. C. Kelly, and Jim Rawlinson. My Dad’s first office was upstairs with a later one built on in the back. So sad to see it go.
I have so many happy child hood memories of this building. I remember as a small girl walking into the drug store and seeing my uncle Ceylon Lee, J.C. Jim, and Andy behind the counter. When you walk through the door u turned and walked into Dr. Stewart’s office. Then when the Gift Shop was there during my early teen years it was the place to be. From Cherry cokes, Vanilla Sodas and a game room with pac-man it was non stop fun for us neighborhood teens. Those walls in that run down building holds alot of memories for our community. Hate to see it go but sadly that’s what happens with time.
Is there a plan for the metal part of the building that will be left? If not, why not just take it all down. Don’t see the sense of leaving a partially demolished building.
My husband speaks of fond memories when he was a little boy and teenager walking to the soda shop for a vanilla soda. Just another piece of Century fading away.
Come down Not burn down,,,,,,
Burning during this drought? I know Alabama is calling for a burn ban. How about Florida?
They should donate it to the local fire departments for training usage…etc…
They can have a training fire and the town can get rid of the building.