210 W. FRANKLIN ST. / A&P STORE / VICKER'S AUDIO / THE BICYCLE CHAIN

In 1947, Walter Dallam Toy's family sold their house and property to Margaret Davis Haywood, who in turn leased it to A&P Stores for a future site to build a new grocery store.

 

In 1948, A&P moved from their former store on East Franklin Street into their newly-built building at this location. A&P moved out in 1975.

 

By September 1975 it was Vicker's Audio; in 1982 Woofer & Tweeter (also an audio store) moved into the space; in late 1986 the chain Stereo Sound bought out Woofer & Tweeter, moving in 1991; by 1992 it was Franklin Street Cycles.

 

It is currently the Bicycle Chain.

 

In February 2023 the Boston-based owners of the property and buildings (this one and adjacent) have applied for a "Conditional Zoning Application," which means they want to tear it all down and build a 150-foot tall, 416,000 square feet building, to house a research laboratory, retail and office space. It will reach from Franklin Street to Rosemary Street. It's is called the "Longfellow Project." So, according to whoever wins the local elections, all this might be gone soon (if approved, construction is to start in early 2025). For more information, Indy Week recently wrote an article about it: indyweek.com/news/orange/chapel-hill-toggles-between-growth-and-change-and-staying-the-same-for-yet-another-election-cycle with an update here: indyweek.com/news/orange/chapel-hill-planning-commission-recommends-moving-forward-with-longfellow-project.

 

View north, circa 1970 (photo vis the Chapel Hill Historical Society)

 

June 27, 1947 Chapel Hill Weekly

 

 

Ad excerpt from August 1979

 

Ad excerpt from November 19, 1982 

 

View north east, January 2019 (via Google Streetview)