GORE BAY—An historic building in the town of Gore Bay was demolished last week due to safety concerns. The former Island Pantry store was torn down at the corner of Dawson and Meredith Streets.
“There is a lot of history in that building,” stated Trish Moran, owner of the building and property it was located on. She explained the building, which she had owned since 2011, had at one time housed Twin Bluffs Restaurant before it relocated to Eleanor Street.
Ms. Moran said the building, “Was not in good shape, or salvageable. We had Paul Sheppard look at it a couple of years ago and he agreed it was not in good shape. We decided to have it torn down because of safety concerns.”
Ms. Moran pointed out the building has been dormant since Doryell Nodecker had operated the pantry but closed several years ago.
“We knew the writing was on the wall that the building would have to come down because of safety issues,” said Ms. Moran. “No, we have no plans for the property at this time.”
“It is very sad,” said Lou Bock. “I had a funny feeling seeing it torn down. My dad and mother, (Marv and Rhea) Woods had bought the building from my grandparents, Simon and Margaret.” Her parents started a restaurant until they sold to Lily Third who ran Twin Bluffs restaurant until she moved the restaurant (to Eleanor Street) in town and sold the building to Klaus Bach.”
In the book The Early Years of Gore Bay, written by W. John McQuarrie and published in 1990, Ev Proctor wrote a brief history on all the businesses in town. He wrote of this building, “When I was a boy this was A.E. Johnson’s Ice Cream Parlour. Johnson sold out in 1926 to the Simeon Woods family. They started Woods’ Restaurant which became a store, meat market and finally “Marv’s” for many years. Marvin Woods sold to Ed and Lily Third who called it Twin Bluffs. The Thirds sold to Klaus and Donna Back who have made it a thriving business called the Island Pantry, dispensing all kinds of health foods.”
