Floyd Craft is making another investment in downtown Bowling Green.
Demolition started this week in the space above Panera Bread for what will be Floyd Craft’s A. Froney
Lofts.
The name goes back to 1892 when Albert Froney opened a department store that operated there until the mid
1940s. LaSalle and Koch, Macy’s, Uhlmans and Stage later operated department stores there.
Craft entered Bowling Green’s downtown business scene 38 years ago last month, opening the Ben Franklin
store.
"I am excited about. It is something I knew I wanted to do and finally got the numbers I could live
with," Craft said.
The roughly 13,000 square feet of space has been costly to maintain, Craft said, adding that he has tried
but been unable to interest retail business to rent the space. "There are licenses and inspections
for the elevators and you have to maintain heat up there because of the sprinkler systems. Something had
to be done," Craft said.
There are 10 units planned with square footage running between 1,000 and 1,500. Most will be two
bedrooms, some will have two baths, all will have hardwood floors and the building will be accessible.
Three of the units will be built with wide doorways and designed to be made full accessible with the
addition of handrails and other aids.
Crafts said the units are intended for professionals and he hopes to be able to attract long-term
tenants. Renderings are scattered around Panera.
He is undecided if all units will have full laundry facilities or if there will be a common launder area.
"It is very expensive to do those hook ups in every unit," Craft said.
Ed Tyrrell is the developer.