What Should Replace the Former Hardware Store on Franklin Street?

Each month Melrose Patch presents a new vacant building or lot and asks you to tell us what you think would be the best use for it.

Forget what zone it's in, setback regulations and all the other zoning jargon that puts people most to sleep. If you had your way, what would you like to see there? What would be the best use for the community?

This month's vacancy is the former Wedeco Building Products and Franklin Hardware storefront at 525 Franklin St.

Charles Ragucci ran Wedeco Building Products for over 30 years at the storefront. Then in 2007, shortly after a car crashed through the front of the store, Ragucci died and his daughters kept the business going.

Two years later, the store reopened as Franklin Hardware as a partnership between the building's new owner and Ragucci's daughters, but the store was short-lived.

Since then, the function facility was also refurbished and opened in an adjacent space that was previously a Wedeco Building Products storage room.

What does Melrose need that could go in this storefront? Tell us in the comments below.