Patrick Anderson

panderson@argusleader.com

Before it collapsed last week and finally disappeared under excavators Thursday, the building at the intersection of Phillips Avenue and 10th Street was once called “the best corner in downtown.”

That was a quote from Ted Hamze, who owned Uno Tomato Express before it closed in 2006 to make way for Stogeez Quick Pick, a convenience store.

The two-story brick facade at 136 S. Phillips Ave hosted plenty of businesses in its 100-year history, starting with Le Bon Marche, which sold dry goods and women's hats.

“I think it’s always difficult to see a building come down, especially a pretty significant one for downtown,” said Adam Nyhaug with Siouxland Heritage Museums.

Until the Copper Lounge opened in 2008, the building usually hosted some form of convenience store. With Lewis Drug coming in, having a place to pick up groceries and over-the-counter medicine downtown would have been a return to form.

But after last week’s tragedy, which took the life of 24-year-old Sioux Falls resident Ethan McMahon, Lewis representatives say there’s no time frame to open a new location.

Complete coverage: Downtown building collapse

Howes Oil converted the space in 1999 into The Corner Stop, a convenience store. Gil Haugen Construction handled the remodel. The same company was hired by current owner Legacy Developments to prevent further damage to PAve bar, the neighboring property, after last week's collapse.

Before The Corner Stop, there was Statz Drug and before Statz there was Eastwold Drug, whose namesake was still on the façade of the smoke shop directly to the east. Eastwold Smoke Shop was also slated for demolition Thursday. Eastwold was one of the building’s longest occupants, using the space between 1974 and 1999, according to Siouxland museums.

Here's a history of the space and some of the neighboring buildings, provided by museum staff: