East Market demo: New improved Bob's

You may have noticed that a familiar building on East Market Street is gone–the former Charlottesville Power Equipment building at 919 East Market was demolished yesterday to make way for some new digs for Bob's Wheel Alignment, located right next door, and allow Charlottesville Power Equipment to move into some bigger digs near the intersection of Greenbrier Drive and Route 29. Appropriately enough, demo company Diggs, Inc. did the honors, carefully bringing the building down with a trackhoe, for as Diggs' Mark Spicer points out there was only about a foot between the building and Bob's.

"Using a trackhoe you can reach and grab at it, which makes it easier to take down carefully, " said Spicer, who otherwise described the demo as "pretty routine."

Bob's owner, Bob Archer, who owned the demoed building, as well as his own and two others on that side of the street, says he plans to build a new store front, mechanics bay, office, a "nice waiting room," and the "whole works." He's also going to pick up 19 new parking spaces as well, City planners willing.

"It's going to be pretty nice," says Archer, who has been in business on East Market for 28 years.

Thanks to famous pedestrian Kevin Cox for the photos!