Tasty Nut Shop building to be demolished

Supporters who vowed to save the 159-year-old Tasty Nut Shop building in downtown White Pigeon have grudgingly accepted the fact it will meet its fate within the next year.

Over the course of an hour Tuesday evening, short- and long-term precautions to keep the building and its vicinity safe were discussed by White Pigeon Construction Board of Appeals. Eventually, talk turned to the inevitable demolition and how that process will unfold.

Located at 100 and 102 E. Chicago Road, the brick, three-story building was condemned due to its compromised state in October 2021 and vacated by Tasty Nut Shop owner Marjorie Hamminga in February 2022.

Through quick-claim deed, Tasty Nut Shop was put under the control of Union Hall Block Building Inc. Its president, David Howard, issued a letter to the village earlier this month and indicated “after repeated and continuous attempts to raise funds for the ongoing restoration of the building … the Board of Directors of the Union Hall Block Building concluded that the building is no longer a viable restoration project and as such, we are now focusing our efforts on the safe and effective demolition (of) the building.”

Union Hall board members Michelle Morris and Diane Hoffman stressed their willingness to work with the village in terms of fencing off the area around the building as a short-term, temporary precaution.

Demolition estimates, including lead and asbestos abatement, permits, soil samples and removal of waste, are expected to cost about $250,000.