Sears Demolition Begins, Making Way for Campbell Soup Office Project

The first bricks crashed to the ground at the derelict Sears building on Admiral Wilson Boulevard Wednesday morning, as Campbell Soup Company began clearing the way for a planned office park, part of the company's redevelopment efforts in the city's Gateway district.

The demolition closes six years of legal wrangling, negotiations and fights over eminent domain that threw a cloud over the status of the long-vacant building, which Sears left in 1971. Campbell Soup acquired it last year for $3.5 million, following a battle between former owner Ilan Zaken, of Cherry Hill, and the city, which blocked his moves to switch the building’s zoning to allow a retail business, according to a 2012 Philadelphia Inquirer report.

While control of the Sears property had been in limbo, Campbell Soup has still spent heavily on redevelopment efforts, pumping $132 million into its headquarters, which stands on what would be one end of the proposed Gateway Office Park project.

The Sears building is just one slice of about $10 million in properties the company has acquired in the area after being tabbed the master redeveloper for the Gateway project.

“Today marks an important step in our plans to revitalize the Gateway District and the city of Camden,” said Richard Landers, Campbell’s vice president of tax and real estate. “We have always believed that the former Sears parcel is critical to having a viable footprint for the office park project. We are pleased to be moving forward with our development plans.”

Architecture and urban design firm Cooper, Robertson & Partners has been hired to design the office park, Campbell’s officials said, and the company is already stepping up marketing efforts to attract tenants.

"This is great news for the city, Campbell and the region,” said Camden Mayor Dana L. Redd. “The demolition of this property finally clears the way for future development in the Gateway neighborhood. My administration looks forward to continued collaboration with Campbell as we strive to spur economic development and move Camden forward.”

Demoltion, which is being handled by Winzinger Incorporated, of Hainesport, is expected to take about eight weeks, Campbell's officials said.