Tenants above Biscuit Company put on alert by engineer

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, October 1, 2003

(10/01/03)After damage to one downtown Vicksburg restaurant caused it to close, other businesses above it may be affected, too.

“My wife and I kid each other all the time saying I wonder if we’ll have a floor in the morning,'” said Chris Tillotson, co-owner of Old Tyme Ice Cream Parlor and Deli, 1102 Washington St., and Griz Old Tyme Photography, 1100 Washington St.

They have a floor today, but their front door doesn’t open like it did a few months ago. And one of his employees decided not to move into an apartment up another level due to worries the building may be declared unsafe.

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The deli and photo shop extend west from ground level. There’s a steep embankment and The Biscuit Company, below, was closed about three months ago after water, mud and sewage seeped in through a support wall.

The restaurant’s problems happened during the $5.6 million makeover of Washington Street. The city and its contractor say it’s not their fault, and other reports are pending.

However, part of a study released by a Tupelo-based structural engineering firm said that the Biscuit Company support wall in question is bowing inward, and those above may have reason to worry.

“We … advise that the tenants above the restaurant area be made aware of the situation since their businesses are being supported by a severely compromised structure and foundation,” wrote Mark Watson of Jenkins Engineering Inc.

Les Pearman, spouse of Biscuit Company owner Sandy Pearman, said they hired the firm to determine the possibility of reopening anytime soon. He said they chose an out-of-town firm to avoid local politics.

The Pearmans hired an attorney not long after their restaurant closed.

The city has no plans to condemn the Biscuit Company building, said Victor Gray-Lewis, city director of building and inspections. However, the Mississippi Department of Health said the building would have to be gutted and any potentially hazardous materials removed from the building before it could be opened as a restaurant again.

Vicksburg Mayor Laurence Leyens has said the questions about the building should be directed toward Hemphill Construction, the Florence-based contractor working on the urban renewal project. A spokesman for Hemphill Construction has said the company followed specifications furnished by the city.

Tillotson said the city and the contractors are just passing the buck to avoid responsibility for what happened.

“We were here for almost two years and there were no problems until the city started working on the street,” Tillotson said. “Just put two and two together.”

Building owner S. J. “Skippy” Tuminello said the building has moved about two inches since construction began on Washington Street. He said he was having equipment set up to determine exactly how much the building has moved. He said he also hopes to have a contractor’s estimate soon on the cost of renovating the Biscuit Company building.

Tuminello said he’s hasn’t had much communication with the city since his attorney has become involved.

City Attorney Nancy Thomas said she couldn’t comment about any matter where the city may face possible lawsuit.

Tillotson, in the meantime, said he can’t worry about his store’s structure. He’s got more pressing things to worry about.

“We’re heading into the peak Christmas season,” he said.