By Deirdre Parker Smith
Salisbury Post
Cheryl Goins has spent a lot of time in Rowan Public Library’s History Room searching for information and photos of 101 S. Main St.
She came up with some information, but got even more from Betty Dan Spencer’s collection of historic photos. Other people have brought old newspaper clippings showing the building.
It was known as the Hedrick Block, and now includes Maia’s Clothing and Fine Frame Gallery.
One photos shows Teiser’s Grocery was once on the site.
Another one shows a Ferris wheel in front of the building. Still another shows the large Pilot Insurance sign on the roof. A chilling photo shows a large fire in 1956 that devastated the Victory Theater next door. It was the third fire at the theater.
Ever since Ted and Cheryl moved to the area seven years ago, they’ve been interested in downtown. They now have their home on Marsh Street for sale and are looking forward to being able to walk just up the street to St. John’s Lutheran Church, where they are members, or over to Simply Good foods or the Farmer’s Market.
“What really inspired us was what Whitney and Syed and Michael and Connie did.”
Whitney Peckman and Syed Ahmad and Michael and Connie Baker are artists who bought space in the old Flowers Bakery and renovated it into artists’ studios and lofts.
“I said, when I read the story in the paper, ‘They’re living our lives.’ ”
She has always wanted to live downtown and won’t miss her lawn. The new space is actually a little bigger than their house, about 2,500 square feet.
Central Piedmont Builders will do all the work on the building, with financing from the Bank of North Carolina.
The only part that will stay the same is the Shoe Repair shop on the Innes Street side.
Chad Vriesema and his father, Peter, started Central Piedmont about 10 years ago.
“I did work at Critters and Cheryl talked to me then,” Chad Vriesema said. “I did the bathroom at her house.
“I’m excited to do what will be one of the larger renovations downtown. I think it’s a great asset for Salisbury and that corner, a great revitalization.”
In about a week, he expects to be hard at work, pending approval of the plans. He’s start with demolition throughout the building and then work on the basement pottery studio.
Then work will move to the second floor so Ted and Cheryl will have someplace to live, and finally, the retail space on the first floor.
“We’ve got to open the ceiling on the first floor for heating and plumbing.”
Vriesema did the Critters renovation, and has build new homes and worked on house in the historic district. This is probably the biggest commercial project he’s done.
“Critters went well and quickly and we were ready for the next step, and with the economy what it is … it’s good to have work.
“I’m excited and I know I’m capable of it.
He estimates the work will take six to nine months because so much is already in place. Rewiring and plumbing will take up a good portion of their time.
“It’s going to be a lot of manual labor,” Vriesema said.