Doodle's Building Demolition Beginning This Week

Demolition of the former Doodle’s restaurant building, southwest of Glenwood’s Town Square, has begun.

Workers from Council Bluffs-based Cox Construction were at the site Monday doing some preliminary work and removing a variety of items from the building.

The south wall of the structure, located at 104 S. Walnut St., began collapsing in mid-November, forcing the displacement of neighboring businesses housed in the adjoining Robinson Building to the north and The Opinion-Tribune newspaper building to the south. John Cox, owner of the demolition company, said Monday the south wall be taken down first as the demolition work is carried out.

Glenwood code enforcement Jim Webel said if the demolition process goes as planned, The Opinion-Tribune building will likely be cleared for occupancy early next week.

In addition to the newspaper office, The Opinion-Tribune building also houses the LPL Financial office.

A large portion of the southwest corner of the 150-year-old Doodle’s building continued to give way after the collapse was discovered Nov. 15.

The building sat idle while fallen bricks and other debris continued to pile up outside the collapsing wall, creating a public safety concern.

The demolition project was slowed as United Fire Group, the insurance provider for the Doodle’s building, secured a contractor qualified to carry out the demolition, which is considered “high risk” because of the building’s attachment to the Robinson Building.