Newest Pineapple Square building unveiled

The scaffolding and black mesh that had been shielding 1501 Main Street for the past three months were removed today, revealing the newest Pineapple Square building downtown.

“It’s probably one of the best buildings I have built,” said contractor Ernie Ritz.

The new building at the corner of Main Street and Lemon Avenue should be complete in a week and will be the home of four new retailers. Only one has been announced so far — upscale women’s clothier Eileen Fisher.

Pineapple Square developer John Simon is negotiating with other companies to fill the remaining three spaces.

He said he hopes Eileen Fisher will open in November.

The former vacant building used to have a blank concrete-block wall along Lemon Avenue. Now, large windows look onto the mall and Mattison’s City Grille across the street.

Rustic brick makes up the building’s exterior.

“We wanted to make it look like a 1920s retail building so it would blend in with the Downtown Historic District,” Simon said.

Contact Robin Roy at [email protected].