Q:

What is going on with the construction on Whitfield Avenue?

A

: The building on Whitfield Avenue is being remodeled by owner John E. Lynch. Some have come to refer to the space as “the old billiards building,” as the last commercial operation of the space was a billiards parlor.

Lynch said he has started the renovation process to eventually lease out and is currently looking for a tenant. As for what he would like to see in the space, Lynch said he could potentially see a restaurant.

“We’ve got some ideas, we’d love to see another restaurant,” Lynch said. “But the things I do see going in there is one or two businesses, so it’ll have two entrances. The possibility is a normal office building, potentially a doctor’s office [or the like].”

Whatever it becomes, Lynch and the construction crew found out what it had been once, when they unearthed an old Jitney Jungle sign.

“Underneath the sheet metal that we pulled away, we found the remains of the sign,” he said. “It says ‘self-service food store,’ so our speculation is that it was one of the first grocery stores that you took the cart down the aisle versus having it ordered and delivered or going to some type of counter to pick up an order.”

An old photograph found of the building shows what the site looked like as the Jitney Jungle. Lynch said the photo is believed to be from the 1940s, though that is an approximation. He pointed out the interesting details of the photo, such as the uniform of the man outside the store that can be seen up close.

Lynch said while he thinks the sign – and what it looked like in the old photograph – is an interesting and unexpected find, the bricks are in bad shape and most likely will need to be replaced. Lynch said other than repairing or replacing what is necessary in order to maintain the integrity of the building, he puts a heavy emphasis on preserving the original aesthetic of the façade.

Lynch said he estimates the renovations will be complete in about two months.