Restoring Old Ford Dealership and Beer Joint

[cojones]

I purchased an old Ford dealership building and bar built in 1936 and 1931, respectively. The Ford dealership was built by John Zalesak and the bar was built and owned Joe Svajda (serving Magnolia Beer) in Wallis Texas. Mr. Zalesak owned and operated the ford dealership business from1936 through 1945. Mr. Zalesak served in the military during WWII and took him away from the business. Mr. Zalesak sold the building in 1946 to Frank B. Petter, who started a Desoto/Plymouth dealership and operated there through the early 1980s or so. At some point, so far undetermined, Mr. Petter formed a relationship with Texaco and instituted a Texaco station. From the early 80s through the early 2000s, the building deteriorated and was largely used as a storage building for family. The building was comdemned by Wallis and the heir to Frank Petter quickly and relatively superficially repaired the building to avoid condemnation. In 2020, I purchased the building and its contents, including all of the ceiling and roof debris from years of disrepair, materials, parts, equipment, appliances, pumps and began its restoration.

 

[bdbecker]

Hell of a first post - congratulations on your purchase! Looking forward to seeing what you do with it.

 

[bld movs]

This is super cool. Good luck!

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[karoc]

OMGoodness,awesome shop and fantastic story. Love those old buildings, what is your plans, hope you keep some of details that makes that an old building but bring it up to date. Keep pics coming as you make progress and some antique discovery's,welcome to site and congratulations on your purchase to help save some history

 

[XJSuperman]

I'm in. This should be a good one.

 

[coldh2o]

Subscribed, looks very interesting!

 

[cojones]

his is a picture in 1931 or so before dealership building was built

 

[Dumber than lumber]

Congratulations!
I would like to welcome you with a “You ****”.
Thanks for sharing your adventure.

 

[RacerX]

I have a neighbor that is David Zalesak. Said they all settled that area, so he's related. Sent him the link to this posting.

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[captain14]

Agreed great first post. Good luck and make sure you post all the ups and downs of the build. Several years ago a GJ member purchased a n old Mercury Dealership building in Pa that was falling down and badly deteriorated. He had a roofing business among others and kept us abreast during his project.

 

[lis2323]

I'm in also.!!! And welcome.


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[cojones]

This is what it looked like inside, before I removed 10--40yd dumpsters full of debris, and 2-40 foot containers full of collectibles, literature, displays and tools

 

[cojones]

It was packed with stuff--you barely could walk inside

 

[cojones]

more pictures

 

[dare23]

Wow, very neat project!

 

[karoc]

more pictures

Sign and pumps would make a great entrance to whatever you turn place into.

 

[billspit]

I am so jealous, but I sure hope you did your environmental due diligence.

 

[lis2323]

I am so jealous, but I sure hope you did your environmental due diligence.

Good point. I'd be too excited to even think of that !


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[Jagmandave]

Excellent building, and thanks for saving it!

What are your plans for it? Do you live there in Wallis?

 

[APEowner]

That's an awesome building and I'm looking forward to following your progress.

 

[oldwino]

Welcome
Heck of a first post. We’ll be following along

 

[DuluthMachineWorks]

Definitely subscribed. Looking forward to see how this turns out.


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[redlinedbuckeye]

I can't wait to see what you do with this cool place!!

 

[cojones]

showroom and front of showroom and bar

 

[cojones]

some of the progress made--also building in its hay day

 

[4xdog]

This is going to be great fun to follow along. Good luck with this terrific project!

 

[cojones]

This is the back bar that I am putting in the bar. Built in 1880 the year Bovine
Bend (now known as Wallis) was founded

 

[Toolfool]

Very cool. Subscribed to see more.

 

[XJSuperman]

The inside is very cool.

Have you outlined your intentions for the building here? I don't think I saw it anywhere. Will it be along the lines of the 1935 Gas Station Resurrection seen here:
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=337182&highlight=1935+Sinclair
(Personal use and collection space)

Or something more open to public?

 

[cojones]

It will be a 1932-36 vintage ford dealership museum, with showroom that opens up to bar restaurant next door--I have an architect designing a commercial kitchen and bar, and I may open up commercially as my ideas have evolved or just a serious personal mancave.

 

[cojones]

I found a Texaco sign and pole, and pumps for the front of the dealership building

 

[cojones]

some of signage--my dad made for me!!

 

[Buzz Lightyear]

OK you got me. Subscribed!

 

[ChefRex]

Good luck, looks like quite the undertaking.
Looking forward to updates.

 

[lieutenant]

I'm in on this one.

 

[cojones]

some of the accessories and decoration--after the building is secured

 

[cojones]

Also there is a great lubrication station built by Alemite that needs to be restored

 

[LutzTD]

very cool great bones and plenty of stuffing! will be one to watch. thanx for sharing

 

[Norcal]

Bit late now but did you looking into buying a dump trailer VS getting the dumpsters? With the charges for dumpsters today, might have paid for a trailer or at least covered a lot of the costs and a dump trailer always comes in handy. How well that works depends on the distance to a landfill, going to transfer stations adds costs.

 

[larry4406]

Nice!

What are the plans for the station wagon? Belvedere?