Historic Cowboy Jack’s Building Downtown St. Cloud to Come Down This Week

(KNSI) — Two brick buildings in St. Cloud with more than 100 years of history face the wrecking ball after sustaining severe damage in an arson fire.

The owners of Cowboy Jack’s announced they are bulldozing and rebuilding the restaurant with demolition expected to start this week.

The business closed in February 2020 after the owner of the Press Bar and Parlor torched his building, which was next door to Cowboy Jack’s and the building was deemed structurally unsound.

The Phoenix Building and the structure next door at 506 and 510 West St. Germain Street opened as Cowboy Jack’s in 2011. But the brick buildings’ foundations were laid at the turn of the 20th century.

The smaller storefront at 510 St. Germain was built in 1907 by W.C. Jones and opened as the Jones Candy Shop. Walter Jones was known as the St. Cloud Candy Man. The store closed in 1941. In 1944, St. Cloud Floral took over the space and remained there until they moved in 1997.

The Phoenix Building was built in 1910 by Mrs. M.L. Leison for $16,000. It was home to a barbershop and a clothing store. From 1931 to 1941, the site was home to Klock’s Tick Tock Café. The building was the home of the Office Lounge from 1965 to 1990. From 1991 to 2011, the Rox Bar and Grill called the lot home.

Press owner Andrew Welch pleaded guilty to one count of arson in May.

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