Pocono News Section

Blum Bros. Demolition Begins Today

Blum Bros. Demolition Begins Today - Thursday, May 27, 2010 at 04:02AM EST

Reported by:
Thursday May 27 2010

LUZERNE COUNTY - A building with rich history in downtown Wilkes-Barre is ready to be demolished.

Construction crews are preparing to knock down the century-old Blum Bros. Building.

Starting Thurs. morning, demolition crews are expected to begin dismantling the building on S. Main St.

Business leaders say it's all in the name of progress.

The ladies clothing store, founded in 1911, closed for good in 1998. Since then, it's been vacant.

The Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry took over the building several years ago and tried to sell it but found no takers.

Instead, the Chamber decided to clear the lot next to Boscov's and make way for the city's second business incubation center.

That new building project will cost more than $5 million.

The demolition project first involved the removal of asbestos.

The physical dismantling of the building should get underway around 8 o'clock Thurs. morning.