Historic downtown landmark changes hands

An historic downtown landmark recently changed hands when the 129-year-old Dawson Block building at the corner of Queen and East was purchased by a local entrepreneur. 

The Dawson Block building at 708 Queen St. East currently houses the Coch's Corner bar at street level, with additional space on the second floor. It received a municipal heritage designation in 1986.

The property was purchased in June for $300,000 by local entrepreneur Kevin Rusnell under the company name Repic, Inc. The seller was Skeggs Holdings, Inc., which bought the building in 2022.

Rusnell declined to be interviewed for this story, but noted there are improvements planned for the historic building.

Prior to Coch's Corner, the building was home to bar Foggy Notions. Over the years it has also hosted a restaurant and was once the Queen Street home of Bob's Hardware and originally served as a grocery store.

Built in 1894, it wasn't always a two-storey building. As noted on the historical plaque mounted on its outside, the building originally had a third storey and a mansard roof but the entire third floor was removed after a fire in 1953.

According to web site HistoricPlaces.ca, the building was constructed of red sandstone that came from the construction of the Sault Ste. Marie locks. It says the building also once housed the Odd Fellows and Knights of Columbus.