Hickory Flat Store Demolished For Chick-fil-A

CANTON, GA — An old gathering spot known to many Hickory Flat residents is being torn down to accommodate a fast food restaurant. The old Hickory Flat store building at the corner of East Cherokee Drive and Hickory Flat Highway/Ga. 140 has been demolished by its owner, Glenridge HF I LLC, the Cherokee County Historical Society said.

The organization noted it was "disheartened" to learn of the building's fate, as crews began taking the structure apart on Monday.

"The Historical Society had no legal course of action to prevent the demolition, but rallied public support to show the owners how important the historic landmark was to the community," it said Thursday on its Facebook page. "This decision by Glenridge has taken away one of the last vestiges of historic Hickory Flat."

The society went on to thank everyone who shared their stories about the building and signed its petition urging the building's owner to preserve the structure. It also encouraged its followers and other residents to advocate for the county's historic resources and to "stay involved in your community."

"The Historical Society will continue to campaign for stronger measures to protect the historic landmarks that define our county," the organization added.

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According to the historical society's Sites Worth Saving website, this former store and gas station was built around 1950 and owned by the Quarles family. Its second floor was originally used as a Masonic hall until that organization relocated to another venue. In the early 2000s, Lighthouse Antiques opened up shop in the store, but closed several years later. The building has been empty since that business's departure.

"This is the last historic building located on the four corners that was the epicenter of historic Hickory Flat," the Historical Society said, noting the building was threatened by "neglect, impending development/demolition."

The Town of Hickory Flat Facebook page made note of the demolition by updating its status on June 11 to say, "It's official the town of hickory flat is ashamed of its residents letting this happen (sic)." It followed with another status simply saying, "REST IN PEACE."

For Jim Hubbard, a longtime Hickory Flat resident, the building's demolition came "several years late." Residents and community stakeholders had 10 to 15 years to preserve the building, which he said had gotten "in bad shape." Hubbard, the former District 2 Cherokee County commissioner and volunteer firefighter, added the building's construction and layout was also "very hazardous" for firefighters."

"I'm sad to see it go, but it was time," he added.

Hubbard also noted the building has also been threatened by much-needed intersection improvements slated for the area as well as Georgia DOT's long-range plans to widen Highway 140 from Interstate 575 to the Fulton County line.

"That, for sure, would have gotten the front of the building," he said. Even if the improvements and widening were in place, the building would be situated so close to the road that it would be unsafe for children as well as adults to utilize the space.

Hubbard said he has a "lot of good memories" related to the building. One involves him helping a resident install an extension cord so she could use an electric blanket to keep herself warm. Hubbard said he went to the store and met with operator Jim Pinyan, who gave him the materials needed to install the cord.

When he got married, he had some relatives drive up from Atlanta to Hickory Flat. Those relatives stopped at the Hickory Flat store and asked a Georgia state trooper where they could grab a meal, but ended up eating crackers and drinking soda from the cooler at the store. His father-in-law even worked as a guard there, Hubbard said.

"It's a wonderful, traditional place, but we are just going to have to create some new traditions," he added.

Images via Tom Brumbeloe