As demolition starts on Sanibel's Bailey's General Store, social media heart-broken, hopeful

Mark H. Bickel and Amanda Inscore, Fort Myers News-Press
Updated ·1 min read
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This is what Bailey's General Store on Sanibel looked like on July 21, 2023, almost 10 months since Hurricane Ian hit last September. The store and surrounding shops are being demolished. It's the first step in a planned rebuild for the historic and popular grocery store.
This is what Bailey's General Store on Sanibel looked like on July 21, 2023, almost 10 months since Hurricane Ian hit last September. The store and surrounding shops are being demolished. It's the first step in a planned rebuild for the historic and popular grocery store.

As each day passes since Hurricane Ian slammed Southwest Florida, there continues to be vivid reminders of the kind of impact one of the worst hurricanes in history has had on this region.

Recovery will take time. It will happen in phases. Some businesses will come back. Some never will.

Perhaps nothing represents this more than the ultra-popular Bailey's General Store on Sanibel. On Friday (July 21) with the 10-month anniversary of Ian on the horizon, the beloved Southwest Florida landmark took the first step toward its come back. The famous store, with its beginnings dating back to 1899, is being torn down and then eventually rebuilt.

Demolition on the surrounding shops was first. Bailey's, the dominant structure in the plaza, will be dismantled in coming days.

The start of the demolition brought hope and heart-break, based on long threads of comments on Bailey's social media pages on Facebook and Instagram.

Here is what people are saying:

Video of demolition: 10 months after Hurricane Ian, the process to tear down, rebuild Bailey's General Store begins

Fond memories

That feeling I got when walking through those doors on the first day of my vacation… is something I will keep locked in my memory forever. Looking forward to the next chapter.

Excavators tear down the shops by Bailey's General Store and remove the debris on Friday, July 21, 2023. The demolition project will also include the main Bailey's building.
Excavators tear down the shops by Bailey's General Store and remove the debris on Friday, July 21, 2023. The demolition project will also include the main Bailey's building.

Excited about the future

I own a home on Sanibel that is currently in the stages of rebuild. While I’m saddened by all that we’ve lost, I’m now excited for what will be new & even better. I have these same hopes for Bailey’s Center & the entire island. Ian didn’t happen to us. It happened for us. Sanibel Strong!!

A truck is filled with debris from the demolition of the shops by Bailey's General Store on Friday, July 21, 2023, on Sanibel Island. The demolition will eventually include the building housing Bailey's.
A truck is filled with debris from the demolition of the shops by Bailey's General Store on Friday, July 21, 2023, on Sanibel Island. The demolition will eventually include the building housing Bailey's.

'An anchor in my life'

From riding my bmx bike there to buy chicken wings and sit in rocking chairs, to reading mad magazine while catching the evil eye from store clerks, to working at the Island Cinema in my teens. Bailey’s has been an anchor in my life and I can’t believe it will be gone tomorrow. As sad as it is, I look forward to the next chapter of the store that has anything and everything you needed for everyone who stepped foot across their threshold. Best wishes to this next step.

Excavators tear down the shops by Bailey's General Store and remove the debris on Friday, July 21, 2023. The demolition project will also include the main Bailey's building.
Excavators tear down the shops by Bailey's General Store and remove the debris on Friday, July 21, 2023. The demolition project will also include the main Bailey's building.

Looking forward to making new memories

Can’t wait to see what new memories come from this change. Have 25 years worth of pictures and memories of donuts sitting in front of that building to hold us over until you’re done.

Excavators tear down the shops by Bailey's General Store and remove the debris on Friday, July 21, 2023. The demolition project will also include the main Bailey's building.
Excavators tear down the shops by Bailey's General Store and remove the debris on Friday, July 21, 2023. The demolition project will also include the main Bailey's building.

Keep the charm!

Oh this puts a knot in my stomach. So many vacation memories of trips to Bailey’s Center for good food, drinks, cards, summer hats, and yes newspapers! May the new design maintain all the island charm. Meanwhile we will all hold the memories.

Mead Johnson, one of the owners of Bailey’s General Store on Sanibel looks at destroyed shelves on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023 after it was flooded by Hurricane Ian.
Mead Johnson, one of the owners of Bailey’s General Store on Sanibel looks at destroyed shelves on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2023 after it was flooded by Hurricane Ian.

Hugs and gratitude

So sad, it's the most fun I ever had grocery shopping! Hugs and gratitude to the building, family and team that made Bailey’s the Landmark that sustained and nourished generations of residents and visitors. While tomorrow will be hard, you will officially be 1 day closer to your Grand Reopening. You can do this!

Looking forward to the new Bailey's

Oh, the number of times we've walked in and out of those doors to bring groceries back to our cottage at Mitchells Sandcastles. Such sweet memories. Bit we're looking forward to the new Bailey's, and will return when you are ready!

'Love that place'

So sad! Loved that place. My wife and I had the pleasure to experience this amazing place just before Mother Nature took it away.

After the storm. This is what Bailey's looked liked after it was flooded by Hurricane Ian storm surge.
After the storm. This is what Bailey's looked liked after it was flooded by Hurricane Ian storm surge.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Bailey's General Store on Sanibel starts comeback process after Ian