The former Conell Hardware building on the corner of Second and D streets in Utica gets demolished last week. The vacant property will allow Breeza Industrial to expand its operation.
A well-known piece of Utica history is no more.
The former Conell Hardware and Farm Supply building on the corner of Second and D streets in Utica was torn down on Jan. 27.
The building was purchased by Breeza Industrial and the company put up a new building next door to the west to house Breeza Fab, one extension of its operation.
According to Breeza Industrial owner Mike Fehlhafer, the old building had quite a history prior to its days as a hardware store.
“It was Pollock Brothers’ John Deere and Hardware. Before that it was John P. Hanson. I think he sold cars and tractor implements. Prior to him it was a livery stable,” Fehlhafer said.
Greckel Construction of the Utica area completed the demolition with plans to have the lot vacant by Monday afternoon, Feb. 1.
Fehlhafer said his company will take it from there.
“We are planning to expand. I don’t have a projected date to build a new building just yet, but we’re working on a couple of contracts that will require us to build in that space,” he said. “We want to move certain portions of our business to that location to have some office space there and have more of a main street presence.”
Currently, Breeza Industrial operates primarily out of a building along Highway 34 on the north side of town.
