Everyone knows about Grand Junction, Colorado's historic Stranges Grocery at 226 Pitkin Avenue. It is being renovated as we speak. Be among the first to take a look inside.

A major remodel is taking place in the 100+-year-old Grand Junction building. Did you know it had a basement? What's on the second floor? Take a look.

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Step Inside Stranges Grocery at 226 Pitkin in Grand Junction, Colorado

Have you ever been inside this historic building? I was born in Grand Junction, but until yesterday, April 27, 2022, had never been inside. The new owner of the building, Kevin Tinsley, contacted me two days ago and invited me to take a tour.

A Remarkable Place in Grand Junction, Colorado

There's something very special about this building. There's a remarkable charm about it. I know for a fact my great-grandparents used to shop there.

According to mesa.marmot.org, the building at 226 Pitkin Avenue was a family grocery store owned by Carl Stranger. US Census Records indicated the store was in operation by 1909, possibly earlier. You'll find the building is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Should you choose to get more information on this building, use the reference number 13000079 when searching the National Register Database.

Keeping This Grand Junction Building "Historic"

Kevin Tinsley and his wife SueAnn purchased the building roughly a year ago. He shared fascinating information regarding his plans for the site. During my visit with Kevin, he shared the following:

So, right now,  I paid them (Colorado Preservation, Inc) to write a grant to get state money to do an architectural evaluation of the property.  Colorado Preservation, Inc. is going to write a grant so I can get it to the State and get all the professionals in here to evaluate the place and that way I don't run afoul. We've done, you know, surface stuff here, but from this point forward it's going to be all architect.

Changes Taking Place at Stranges Grocery Store

A number of projects are in the works. The basement (which I didn't know it had) has been repaired and improved with reinforced walls and a new floor. Original fixtures such as the coal chute, the sump, and the site of the boiler have all been preserved.

On the main floor, items such as the front door and some windows have been removed and sent out to be refurbished.

The second floor is absolutely amazing. The second floor, measuring roughly 1,000 square feet, houses a number of small apartment units. At this time, the lath and plaster walls are coming down, with plans to build out two apartment units.

A Few Fascinating Finds Along The Way

A number of interesting items have been found during the renovation. One item, a lipstick dated 1941, a shade called "Victory Red," was found inside a wall on the second floor. This particular find was donated to an American servicewomen's museum.

One "historical" curiosity was found on the backside of a piece of trim.  As you may recall, this structure was designed and built by Nunzio Grasso. Check out the writing on the back of this wood trim.

Nunzio Grasso Trim Piece from Stranges Grocery
Kevin Tinsley
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A Real Treat To Go Inside the Old Stranges Grocery

Touring this historic building was an absolute pleasure. How many of our great-grandparents used to shop there? Did any of your family work there? Who lived in the apartments upstairs? You can literally "feel" the history in this building.

Be The First To See the Remodel Underway at Grand Junction's Historic Stranges Grocery Store

Take a tour of the old Stranges Grocery store at 226 Pitkin Avenue in Grand Junction, Colorado. The building is being renovated as we speak. The new owners are making every effort to preserve as much of the original building as possible.

This building is absolutely amazing. We'll start with a tour of all three floors of the building, and then point out a few interesting changes to the outside of the building you may not have noticed.

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