Franks Finer Foods building facing demolition in Jackson – MLive.com

JACKSON, MI A longtime Jackson grocery and party store is headed for demolition nearly a year after it was damaged by fire.

The former Franks Finer Foods, 418 First St., on the corner of W. Franklin street, was condemned after a fire engulfed part of the building on Memorial Day in 2019. Manager Dave Singh said at the time the store planned to reopen.

Related: Franks Finer Foods will reopen after fire, manager says

However, the building was condemned and determined by the city to be a dangerous structure. City Council unanimously approved a $54,950 demolition contract with the lowest bidder, Bolle Contracting in Clare, at its Tuesday, Oct. 13 meeting.

Officials said $10,000 is being covered by the owners insurance carrier and the remainder being paid through the citys demolition fund.

The building has a long history in Jackson, including a connection to the Country Market and Pollys Country Market stores owned by the Kennedy family. It falls in the Under the Oaks historic district but is not considered a contributing building.

Though city records are unclear when it was first built, the store became the flagship Pollys Food Service store in 1934. Owner Frank Kennedys son, F.A. Kennedy, renamed the store Franks Finer Foods in 1958. It remained under the operation of Kennedy family members until 2005.

Related: Peek Through Time: Polly the parrot has helped fill Jackson cupboards for 80 years

In more recent decades the store became a convenience and party store. And more recently, the area around the store was the scene of crime and shootings.

That was an area that was pretty well known for illicit activity, both drugs and otherwise, and it spread through the rest of the neighborhood," Mayor Derek Dobies said.

19-year-old shot multiple times outside Jackson store dies

Dobies noted the city had done environmental design changes to help address the safety of the corner, including adding lighting and tree canopy.

The city intends to reseed the plot and keep it as a green space unless someone wants to buy or develop the land, Dobies said.

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Franks Finer Foods building facing demolition in Jackson - MLive.com