Razing the bar: Chumley's Double Eagle bar on Electric is coming down

By ALEX STRICKLAND - Bigfork Eagle

The closing of Chumley's Double Eagle on Electric Avenue is a blow to those who loved one of Bigfork's more blue-collar establishments. But the hard truth about the bar that shut its doors for the final time last month is this: It's falling apart.

At a downtown merchant's meeting last week one business owner noted that a tree decorating the front of Chumley's had fallen down and with it the piece of siding it was attached to.

But change is coming to the middle of Electric and the deteriorating light blue building that Chumley's occupied will soon be gone altogether.

Florida farmer and part time Bigfork resident Paul Bradshaw purchased the building in December and said he plans to tear it down in the next two months and build an attractive, western-themed retail space in its place.

The building will have a basement and two stories above it, Bradshaw said.

"It will be consistent with a western architectural style," he said. "Think late 1800's or early 1900's western hotels or storefronts."

Bradshaw and his family have owned a home on Swan Hill for five years and he said that they wanted to invest something in the community. Bradshaw's primary residence is a farm in North Florida near Tallahassee.

"We've grown to love the town," he said. "We always thought something could replace the building at Chumley's that would add to the town."

Though Bradshaw said he can't predict who the tenants of the space might be, he said retail and perhaps a restaurant on the main floor would seem appropriate.

Bradshaw is not a full time developer, but does own some commercial properties in north Florida, he said. He was the head of the Florida Land Planning Department and said that one property he owns in downtown Tallahassee was built to resemble Showthyme Restaurant's building in Bigfork.

Bradshaw said that construction should begin soon after demolition is complete and once all of the appropriate permitting is obtained. He said he hoped the foundation would be poured this spring and that work would stop at the beginning of summer so as not to interrupt traffic on Electric Avenue.

"We'll knock off for a few months so we don't interfere," he said.

After Labor Day work would resume and be completed by early winter.

Bradshaw is working with Bigfork architect Joe Magaddino to design the building, which preliminarily includes a stone facade and flower planters in front and balconies. Bradshaw said there would also be a small courtyard behind the building that would house a garden.

"My wife and I are thrilled about working on the project," he said. "We hope it's the premier retail space in downtown Bigfork."