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Formal wear business headed to historic Wheeling structure

WHEELING — More than two decades after the grill went cold at the former Bill’s Hamburger building, a new business soon will occupy the pre-Civil War structure situated between the Capitol Theatre and the Wheeling Suspension Bridge.

Specializing in formal attire for all occasions, J.Jones Evening Wear owner Jill Jones hopes to open her second store at the downtown Wheeling location in November. She already operates a 10,000-square-foot operation in Weirton but said she is glad to be part of the ongoing Friendly City renaissance.

“I definitely wanted to be in downtown Wheeling because it is coming back,” Jones said. “The amount of traffic through that intersection is going to be phenomenal for us.”

Initially, Jones had hoped to open the store by September, but she acknowledges the challenges owner C.J. Kaiser has overcome to renovate the edifice at 1001 Main St.

Built in approximately 1855, according to Kaiser, much of the structure already had fallen into disrepair by the time the hamburger shop closed in about 1995. By the time Kaiser acquired it for $18,000 in 2005, city officials had condemned the building.

“The roof was badly leaking, and there were questions as to whether it could be saved at all,” Kaiser said, confirming he has spent “well into six figures” on the project. “There were 19 layers of lead-based paint that we had to remove. All the windows have been rebuilt. We cleared out Dumpsters of trash.”

Kaiser said Jones will lease the space for her store from him. He said the endeavor fits well with completed and ongoing downtown Wheeling projects, including the Health Plan headquarters, the Boury Lofts, the Stone Center Lofts, the Flatiron Building and the former Gerrero Music building.

“There is so much activity in downtown Wheeling — there is more now than at any point in recent memory,” Kaiser said. “It’s nice to see people interested in downtown again.”

Kaiser said construction contractors are working as quickly as possible to allow Jones to open her store. The goal, she said, is to be up and running in time for the 2017 holiday rush. She said this will be the first store of its kind in Wheeling or Ohio County since the former Kaufman’s bridal store closed its Main Street location in 2010.

“There is a huge need in Wheeling for a store like this,” Jones said.

Jones said she likely will operate from noon to 7 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, as well as from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The shop will open on Sundays during times of significant demand, she said.

“We really appreciate everything Mr. Kaiser has done,” Jones said. “He has made sure the building keeps its historic features, but it will also be state of the art.”

Kaiser said the work and investment will continue into the future, but he is proud of the venture.

“We believe that it now stands as a good example of what can be done with the pre-Civil War buildings in the community,” he said.

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