Port Huron, MI — Michele Jones and Steve Fernandez have been working on PH Country Style Market as a labor of love. The downtown Port Huron grocery store project has faced several setbacks, but they are hopeful that the doors will be open by the end of January 2022.
The biggest recent issue has been installation of the market’s elevator which is currently still crated and sitting in pieces in the main area of the store. They have been waiting on the elevator permit from the State of Michigan, and they just received notice on December 9th that the permit has been issued.
The building at 310 Huron Avenue was originally a Woolworth’s store, one of the first discount stores in the United States, and the last business to occupy it was Emory’s Furniture.
From windows to doorknobs, Jones and Fernandez have discovered many historical features and items during renovation of the building, and they have worked hard to preserve or repurpose them.
Jones removed years of paint from the original doorknobs to create sign-hangers for the upstairs offices, preserving the ornate details from the past.
After sharing the process, Jones said with a smile, “My Martha Stuart gene kicked in.”
When the building is complete, it will feature a main floor grocery area including a full-service deli and meat counter, a basement wine & beer cellar and an area for household & personal items, and a second-story office complex that includes Jones & Fernandez’s personal loft.
To watch a video showcasing the progress on PH Country Style Market, visit WGRT’s Facebook page <HERE>.
Reporting for WGRT – Jessie Wiegand
