As the demolition of the old King’s Stereo building moved to the third floor, Greg Eyben recalled the 15 years he spent at the doomed edifice.
On Saturday he watched as the building, situated adjacent to Victoriaville Mall on North Brodie Street, was brought to its knees on Saturday, one of about 30 people watched the demolition from nearby vantage points.
Eyben worked on the third floor of the building at the Canadian Hearing Society in the literary program. He said he felt sad to see the old brick facade being torn down.
“This building is kind of like family,” Eyben said, pointing to a crane operator as he crushed and brushed glass and brick off the side of the building, leaving gaping holes for onlookers to catch a glimpse of the structure’s guts. “He’s destroying my office.”
Leo Philon arrived around 9:45 a.m. as construction crews began razing the top corner of the building.
A resident of the nearby area, Philon said taking older buildings down will create open space for newer business to move in.
“(It) might bring business around, especially for the Victoriaville Mall … it’s so dead,” Philon said.
Cathy McCauley, owner of Elegant Impressions, said she had mixed feelings about the demoliton, but felt change is a good thing.
“I’m really excited,” McCauley said. “Knocking down the building is really going to revitalize the south core.”
The demolition of the five-decade-old building was completed to make room for the new courthouse. The demolition started with the YMCA building last year in May. It was supposed to start on April 9.
