WARREN, AR – Thursday, May 4, 2023 Bradley County crews used heavy equipment to safely demolish the old Wayne’s(Sandwich Shop more recently) building across the street from the Bradley County Courthouse.
The demolition started around 1:30 pm and was completed just a couple of hours later. This marks the second building to be demolished this week as part of a larger project to demolish all the dilapidated buildings south of the Courthouse Square.
Preparations for the demolition began at 6:00 am on Thursday morning. Crews used a crane around 1:30 pm to open up the roof starting from the middle of the structure to the ends. Then the top level bricks were torn down. Despite the complexity of the demolition, the crews did a fantastic job, making it controlled and methodical.
During the demolition, a large Coca-Cola painted advertisement was found on the western wall of the exposed Hankins Building next door to the east. Not all of it was visible as it had been plastered over some years ago. However, the advertisement likely dates back to the early 1900s.
Cleanup of the building will happen on Friday.
One of the questions that several citizens have asked Saline River Chronicle over the last few days is whether or not the bricks from the buildings were being recycled. Saline River Chronicle understands that indeed the County is salvaging the estimated one million bricks which make up the entire block of buildings.
Following the cleanup of the Sandwich Shop building, crews will begin the demolition of the Hankins building, moving eastward.
The demolition of the old Wayne’s (Sandwich Shop more recently) building marks the end of an era for many Warren residents who remember the hangouts of their youth.
8:51 a.m. Friday, May 5, 2023 UPDATE
Friday morning crews used the same crane to implode the western side of the next door Hankins Building. Work looked to be moving quick.
