Storm-damaged Bailey’s torn down with plans for rebuilding in pipeline
After sustaining heavy damages in Hurricane Ian — and with a project in the works before the storm to renovate and redesign the plaza — the Bailey’s Shopping Center on Sanibel was recently demolished.
On July 21, work started on tearing down the entirety of the buildings at the center, excluding the historic service station, which has been preserved. It only took a couple of days to complete the task.
“We are working on the foundation and that is quite an intensive process,” fourth-generation owner and operator Calli Johnson said last week, noting that it will take about a month to remove the rubble piles.
“We don’t know if the parking lot is going to be taken up,” she added. “We’re waiting to find that out.”
During the demolition, workers uncovered a wall from the old store with the words “Since 1899.”
“People with long memories will remember that Bailey’s center and Bailey’s General Store faced Periwinkle (Way),” Johnson said, explaining that her family expanded upon the building over time and eventually the store’s front ended up facing Tarpon Bay Road. “It was just a neat piece of history.”
The damages from Ian were primarily the result of flooding and storm surge, plus wind-driven rains.
“We had 6 feet of standing water in the store, as well as major roof penetration that damaged large areas of the store,” she said, noting that there was also lesser damage, such as broken windows.
“The storm surge waters were so powerful that they actually blew the hurricane-rated front doors open,” Johnson added. “When we arrived to secure the building, all of the entrances to the building on the front side were open.”
She explained that it showed how powerful Ian was.
“The most important thing about the storm damage as a takeaway is nobody was prepared for the amount of water that came over the island,” Johnson said.
Frank P. Bailey founded the Sanibel Packing Company, now known as Bailey’s General Store, as a packing and shipping facility for agricultural products in 1899. It was located on Matthews’ wharf at the end of what is now Bailey Road, where the ferry arrived and departed with people, vehicles and items. When a hurricane in the 1920s destroyed the store, Bailey’s rebuilt next to the San Carlos Bay.
When the store outgrew itself, Bailey’s moved to its current location at the end of Periwinkle and the corner of Tarpon Bay, at the helm of second-generation owners-operators Francis and Sam Bailey. The business continued to grow and it is now stewarded by third- and fourth-generation owners-operators.
Johnson explained that her family and their store have been a cornerstone of the community for over a century and that before Ian, the building at the center had served the islands for more than 60 years.
“We understand the profound sadness that this causes for the community,” she said of the structure being torn down, noting that her family and their employees also love Bailey’s and feel the same.
“It’s really hard for a lot of people to see,” Johnson added.
The community is invited to stop by. Those who do are asked to follow safety precautions.
“We welcome everyone who wants to come say goodbye to the Bailey’s center as it was,” she said.
Viewing will only be available from the city’s Shared Use Path. As the center is a construction zone, it will not available for public access. Be aware of the large trucks and equipment and exercise caution.
“Please stay safe,” Johnson said.
As for the future of Bailey’s and reconstruction of the center, a project approved by the city about a year before the hurricane was designed around redeveloping but preserving the existing building.
“The project that was planned before the storm has completely been scratched,” she said.
Some aspects of the original design have been retained, while new elements are being proposed.
“We are going to elevate all of the building, except for the service station which is staying where it is,” Johnson said, explaining that the elevation is a post-Ian proposed change. “It’ll be at least 10 feet.”
No longer working off the existing building, they could also pick the location for the front.
“The front doors will be facing the corner of Periwinkle and Tarpon Bay,” she said.
Tenant spaces will be available.
“The tenant spaces will more easily flank the center store,” Johnson said. “We have that lake in the back and we’re hoping to make that more of a focal point for at least some of the new tenants.”
The outparcel restaurant will also be retained.
“That will be rebuilt as well and elevated, but not as much as the main center,” she said. “Everybody really enjoyed having the restaurant on the corner right there, so we’re looking to offer that again.”
The promenade from the restaurant to the center and porte-cochère in the original plan remain.
“Our guests are going to look forward to shopping with us going up an elevator,” Johnson added of additional changes in the revised design. “There will be parking underneath parts of the center.”
Green features in the original plan have also been carried over.
“All of our equipment in the store will be state-of-the-art, which will add efficiency to our operations,” she said, noting that they will reinstall the solar panels and even expand on the project. “We rescued the solar panels from the solar farm on the roof.”
With a new plan and design, the project must go through the process all over again with the city, including consideration by the Sanibel Planning Commission and Sanibel City Council. Johnson noted that they expect to submit the revised project to city staff for their review within the next month.
“If the planning portion of this goes smoothly,” she said of input from staff, followed by green lights from the commission and council. “We would expect to break ground in late 2023 or early 2024.”
Johnson acknowledged that there were some concerns with their original plan.
“People are concerned we’re going to lose our charm,” she said. “The building will be different, new, nice looking, but we’re going to retain our history and our charm, as well as our commitment to quality products and service.”
“We’re grateful for the support of the community through this,” Johnson added.
While Bailey’s undergoes the rebuild, the family continues to operate its store on Captiva.
“We miss everyone, and we’re doing our best to serve folks at The Island Store,” she said.
Johnson noted that they have expanded the store’s offerings post-storm to better serve the islands.
“But we can’t wait to be back at Bailey’s,” she said of the full-service grocery and hardware store.
Since the hurricane, Bailey’s has also launched an online store.
“If you can’t wait to get back, we have some items to tide you over,” Johnson said.
The store offers worldwide shipping.
To check it out, visit https://baileysofsanibel.myshopify.com/.