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Plymouth Welcomes a New Retail Kitchen Shop in a Once-Condemned Building
A long-neglected historic building in Plymouth’s Old Village is getting a second chance at life and will soon become home to a new specialty kitchen store. The building, located at 173 West Liberty St., was originally constructed in the late 1800s and has hosted numerous commercial tenants over the years.
The building fell into severe disrepair in the early 2000s and was officially condemned by the city in the spring of 2022. However, Plymouth residents Alex Bernetich and Kelly Sugg purchased the property last summer and have been working tirelessly to restore it.
“It had been neglected for a while,” said Bernetich, an architect. “The roof caved in about two years ago and brought part of the second floor with it, along with part of the first floor and the staircase.” The basement was also severely water-damaged from years of rain and snow.
Bernetich adds, “We bought it a little blind, because there were only so many parts of the building we could get into,” noting that she and Sugg, who are engaged, own another building on the same street, where he runs a mechanical engineering business.
The building was filled with old beds, appliances, and other trash that needed to be removed before any renovation could begin. “We’re essentially replacing the whole building except for the side walls,” Bernetich said. “There was so much of it that was so far gone that it needed to be a full replacement.”
To maintain historical accuracy, Alex Bernetich conducted research at the Plymouth Historical Museum. Historical photos and discussions helped shape the details of the new façade. Inside, new heavy timber beams reflect the materials used during the building’s original construction. “We wanted to restore the building to its former glory,” Bernetich noted.
Residents in the neighborhood have been overwhelmingly supportive of the project. With most of the work now complete, the upper floor will be used for office space, and the ground floor will house the new retail store, East Elm Kitchen Co..
A New Kitchen Store
Founder Rebecca Nicholson described East Elm Kitchen Co. as a specialty independent kitchen retail shop offering high-quality home kitchen products such as cookware, bakeware, cutlery, tabletop textiles, coffee tools, barware, and glassware. The store will also feature goods made by local artisans.
“Whether you’re hosting a family occasion, cooking for a dinner party, or just trying to get a weeknight meal on the table, we’re going to have what you need,” Nicholson said. A Plymouth resident herself, Nicholson is eager to contribute diversified retail options to the Old Village area.
“I understand and value the commitment small business owners make to their communities,” Nicholson stated. “This is the type of business East Elm Kitchen Co. will be, and I am excited to share my love for food, fellowship, and community with this area.”
The store is expected to open in late October or early November, just in time for the holiday season.
City Approval
In a unanimous vote, the Plymouth City Planning Commission retroactively approved the building’s site plan during their August 9 meeting. City officials allowed the work to begin before a planning commission review due to the building being considered a public hazard.
“Thank you for saving that building,” said one commissioner. “I never understood that any of our buildings had gotten that far in disrepair.”
Planning Commission Chair Karen Sisolak shared her enthusiasm as well. “I’m thrilled with the work I’ve seen being done there,” she noted during a recent neighborhood walk.
With the careful restoration efforts and addition of East Elm Kitchen Co., Plymouth’s Old Village is set to embrace a meaningful piece of its history while welcoming a new, vibrant business.
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