A building that housed a well-known bar in Carbondale for nearly three decades is gone.
The City of Carbondale demolished Sidetracks on Tuesday.
It resulted in sadness on social media from some SIU alumni and others who frequented the establishment. But, Mayor Mike Henry says the demolition of the building does not mean the end of the business.
"The owner of Sidetracks relocated right across the street on Illinois Avenue from it. (He) has a really great place over there. We needed the building to complete our parking plan."
Henry says the 40 additional city-owned parking spaces will be ready in time for the influx of thousands of people to witness the total solar eclipse in August.
The mayor says Canadian National Railroad, which owned the property, was not going to renew its lease with the owner of Sidetracks, so the lease was broken early to allow the city to move forward with its plan.