What’s the plan for 155-year-old store next to demolished Pierce County school?
Less than two weeks after crews demolished a historic school house in Pierce County, a local chef shared an update about her plans for a 155-year-old general store nearby.
Danielle Kartes told The News Tribune earlier this year that she hoped to purchase and revamp the aging Alderton General Store at 9602 state Route 162, which closed in 2018.
“It won’t be a restaurant, but it will be restaurant-worthy food – it will still be that grocery store where you can buy dry goods,” Kartes said in April about her plans. “We want to be a huge supporter to Sumner and Knutson Farms, we want to make sure we can do something that is a hub, central to our beautiful, growing region.”
She said at the time that, if her plans worked out, she hoped to open in spring 2027.
Kartes posted an update on social media on May 26.
“There has been A LOT of craziness happening on this corner over the last week!” she wrote. “Rest assured we are TRYING TO SAVE the ALDERTON GENERAL STORE!! We met with the county after months of waiting and it went GREAT!!!”
Kartes appeared to be referring to the recent demolition of the 111-year-old Alderton School at 9512 state Route 162. Crews tore down more than half of the building, then stopped demolition May 18 after the county realized the demolition permit was issued in error.
“County staff did not identify that the structures were listed on the historic register before the permit was issued,” county spokesperson Maranatha Hay said in an emailed statement to The News Tribune May 19.
Hay told The News Tribune in an email Friday that the demolition was expected to proceed this week because the partially standing building “poses an immediate health and safety risk.”
The gymnasium next to the school is still standing and cannot yet be demolished. The Landmarks and Historic Preservation Commission will consider the gym’s future in June, Hay said.
Kartes did not immediately respond to a message from The News Tribune Tuesday about her plans for the restoration of the general store nearby and the timeline, but her social media post gave an overview of where things stand.
“One thing we need to tackle to make sure we can buy the store is a new Septic design and we had to get the blackberries cleared as the first step!!” Kartes wrote in her social media post.
Kartes said a company has now cleared more than 5,000 square feet of blackberries, and that a septic designer will visit June 3.
“If all goes well we are one step closer the BUYING THE BUILDING AND RESTORING THE GROCERY STORE for our little farm community,” she wrote. “As soon as we close on the building (fingers crossed) I’ll be able to start fundraising by selling goods to cover the remodel! We are SAVING this tiny corner of History!!”
