SALISBURY — A contractor will begin removing the brick facade from the two-story Benchwarmers building this afternoon in hopes of reopening East Fisher Street in time for Friday’s Brick Street Live concert and Night Out event.
The city closed a portion of East Fisher Street last week when the brick facade at 113 E. Fisher St. started crumbling and appeared to be in danger of collapse.
Central Piedmont Builders constructed an interior wall from floor to ceiling Monday to stabilize the front of the building while the brick is removed, said Chris Branham, the city’s Code Services Division manager. Once the brick is gone, which will take several days, workers will wrap the exterior in plastic, Branham said.
If the weather cooperates and all the brick is down Friday, Branham, Rowan County building inspector Pete Bogle and city Fire Marshal Terry Smith will decide whether to reopen East Fisher Street.
Todd Littleton owns Benchwarmers and has been in the process of buying the building from owner Juanita Ramsey, Branham said.
Read more in Wednesday’s Post.