Key Food on Washington and Lincoln has sold, residential building and grocery store in the works

I can only imagine how many times Trader Joe's is approached a month with similar offers.

Hundreds?

@iamahmadrabah -

Above, the buyer of the air rights (basically all of the rights that will allow the residential that will go in above the first floor), was Levi Balkany of Happy Living Development.  

Demolition permit now granted:

The Islands is now closed: 

Closed.

For those wondering about Ludwig's (aka Good Nature Pharmacy) , the small drug store that was on the right side of the strip. They are staying in the neighborhood. The new location is on Washington, down around Prospect Place. It across the street from Gino's Pizza, next to a liquor store, but it's not open yet. Richie and Shawn have stated they would be open in a couple of weeks. I believe it use its "Good Nature Pharmacy" name.

Demolition and excavation can be done in bad weather. So it would not surprise me if they waited until late fall to demolish the structure, excavated and then started pouring the foundation in the early Spring.

Workers were really busy last week. Interior demolition is complete and the roof is now being removed. The family that ran Key Food was marveling at all of the progress yesterday.

Steel beams now gone. Only the exterior walls remain and these can be knocked into the center of the structure very quickly. Storefront is now completely open. Only masonry remains.