Future of San Angelo's Nostalgic Building Uncertain

 

San Angelo may lose an old building with nostalgic value to some residents.

The old, run-down construction on Chadbourne and Ave. M used to be a shower and laundry facility for ranch hands during the wool boom in the ‘40s.

Pablo Florez, present at the Construction Board meeting last Thursday, fondly remembers the establishment.

“They would come in from the ranches and go shower there,” said Florez,” I used to walk those streets, shining shoes.”

The property itself needs an overhaul to be brought up to city code, and if nothing is done within 60 days, the building will be demolished.

Not good news for Gerardo Olivo from Del Rio, who bought the space recently.

Olivo attended the meeting to ask for time to renovate the building.

The board, moved by his plea, granted him 60 days to secure the building, on the condition that he gets an engineering report to ensure that the location is not considered dangerous.

Should the engineering report be favorable, and Olivo secure his building within 60 days, the city will allow Olivo to renovate.

Olivo is currently uncertain as to his plans for the venue.

The building holds a little charm for those who remember it being a part of a vibrant location in San Angelo, but it remains to be seen whether or not it will stick around.

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I received this message from George Gallegos not too long after I posted this story.

"Cheyenne, the buildings you featured belonged to my grandparents, David and Francisca Cruz. The bigger building was a grocery store back in the '40s n '50s. Known as Cruz Grocery, it was the center of the Hispanic community at the time. My grandmother was the entrepreneur, which was uncommon in those days...a Hispanic woman business owner. She started her businesses, the grocery store and laundry, by selling ice pops made in her home refrigerator. Even more amazing, she reared 13 children while running her businesses." 

How cool is that!?!

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