SANIBEL, Florida – Sanibel’s iconic Bailey’s General Store has been demolished to make way for a new, modern building.
Bailey’s General Store on Sanibel announces new rebuilding plans
The decision to rebuild the historic store that has served the community for over a century was officially approved by the Sanibel City Council during a July meeting, just in time for the store’s 125th anniversary.
The new plans for the site call for a taller, more resilient building to meet the needs of a hurricane-prone barrier island.
Baileys General Store
Callie Johnson, co-owner of Bailey’s and mayor of Sanibel, expressed mixed feelings about the project.
“We are as sad as everyone else in our community to lose our beloved historic building. However, we believe it is the responsible thing to do to rebuild the building on an elevated site,” Johnson said.
To ensure that the new structure is both functional and respects Sanibel’s unique character, all buildings on the property, with the exception of the still-standing historic gas station, will be elevated.
Baileys General Store
In addition, the main building will be moved further back to create more parking space. While the increased building height is a concern for some barrier island residents, others understand the need.
Sanibel resident Steve Maxwell expressed support for the changes and acknowledged the lessons learned from recent challenges.
“We learned from Ian that it is a necessity in terms of survivability and sustainability. Therein lies the key to the architectural necessity of height,” explained Maxwell.
Maxwell also reflected on the larger loss that comes with the demolition of Bailey’s, noting that the store was more than just a store.
“Oh, we were known as the Daily Riders,” Maxwell said. “Everyone came to Bailey’s because it was a meeting place for all the islanders. Sanibel belongs to Bailey’s.”
The owners hope to begin construction on the new building within six months, but it is expected that it will be at least two years before the store is ready to welcome customers again.
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Demolition of Bailey’s Center on Sanibel begins
