Work is scheduled to start soon on improvements to one of Foley’s oldest buildings. Closed for more than 15 years, the plan is to rehabilitate the historic Foley Bakery structure and reopen it later this year.
The Foley City Council voted March 20 to approve a facade grant for $19,500 to pay some of the costs of replacing windows and doors and making other improvements to the building. The replacement of the windows and doors is estimated to cost $200,998.
Mark Wright of 4Wright Investments, one of the owners of the building, said work should start in the next few weeks.
The total cost of the planned renovations of the building is $443,296. The work is scheduled to start April 20 and be completed by Oct. 20, according to the grant application.
The building was constructed in 1925 and operated as the Foley Bakery for many years. The most recent use of the building was the restaurant Cactus Cafe, which closed in 2007. After the restaurant closed, city officials said the building was too deteriorated to allow another business to reopen without renovations.
The city bought the building in 2012 to preserve the structure, which is one of the oldest in Foley and a contributing structure to the Foley National Register Historic District. The city later sold the building to Katapult Properties and 4Wright Investments.
Foley Mayor Ralph Hellmich said the building has been an interest for residents for many years.
“This is probably just about the most asked about piece of property,” Hellmich said. “I think this is going to be great.”
The building is located at the northeast corner of North Alston Street and West Laurel Avenue
(U.S. 98).