Historic Jones Mercantile Building In Canton Sold To Developers

CANTON, GA — The Historic Jones Mercantile Building has new private owners.

According to Canton officials, the Downtown Development Authority has signed a contract for the sale of the more than 140-year-old building to developers Penn Hodge and Grant Schmeelk for $2.2 million.

Hodge and Schmeelk are business partners in an Atlanta-based commercial real estate development and brokerage firm concentrating in leasing, management, joint ventures, and sales, the city said. The firm is responsible for the redevelopment of what is now known as The Mill on Etowah in downtown Canton.

“Tasked with developing downtown for the public good, this DDA, together with all of Team Canton including our mayor and city council, has worked tirelessly to bring the best buyer in for our beloved Jones Building,” said Brooke Schmidt, City of Canton Councilor, Economic Development Chair, and DDA Board Member. “We are confident that Penn, Grant, and their collaborators will create an exciting development that maintains our healthy and vibrant downtown."

Hodge and Schmeelk said their intent is to create a destination landmark for office, retail, and restaurants in the historic downtown area, and help unite the two districts [Downtown and The Mill on Etowah] in the City of Canton. The development team proposes to invest into the existing building and take the lead on all the renovations, marketing and leasing.

“The development of the Jones Building is the next opportunity to showcase the City of Canton,” said Hodge. “The private/public partnership of this historical landmark will define the future of Downtown. We see the Jones Building project as the next adaptive reuse challenge, which will continue our theme of ‘Honoring History’ for the City.”

Hodge and Schmeelk said they also plan to enlist local design duo Kandace and Rob Walker-Bunda of Bunker Design to bring thoughtful vision of the re-design of this historic building to life.

“We want this project to show and celebrate all the layers that have accumulated over time to give this great building its character and personality,” said K. Walker-Bunda. “Staying true to the historic nature of the building is crucial to the vision of showing the time span this building has lived through.”

According to city officials, the exterior architectural and historic character of the Jones Building will remain with modifications to bring the building into current code compliance while also working with the City of Canton to ensure that any new exterior work is in line with the City’s vision and commitment to historic preservation standards.

New interior work will celebrate open site lines and allow for light to pass through the interior spaces naturally, with new all-glass storefront and modern touches to show users and visitors the journey through time that this building has endured and will honor.

Proposed uses for the redeveloped building will take a mixed use – adaptive reuse – and commercial strength approach, and will potentially include retail, restaurants, and office space, the city said.

The Historic Jones Mercantile Building has served as the focal point of the central business district since 1879, when it originally opened as the Jones Mercantile. Serving the residents of Cherokee County with everything from hardware to haberdasheries, food to furniture, and children's toys to caskets, the store was a one-stop shop and the original Cherokee County department retailer.