As of 5:00 P.M. on Wednesday, an agreement contract was terminated for the purchase of properties located at 534 S Chestnut Street and 116 E Osceola Avenue. The proposed contract would have relocated the historic Dairy Depot to put in a new Dollar General store.

According to the General Manager Zach Huss, this reconsideration was made following major feedback from the community.

“I can honestly say that I am satisfied with the outcome,” Huss said. “At the end of the day, I too want what is best for the people of Reed City.”

Plans for the project initially included two residential lots being rezoned to commercial for the new store to come in. After the recent Monday meeting on Feb. 5, all city commissioners voted no to the lot located at 522 Chestnut Street due to the city’s master plan of not rezoning the area north of the Depot due to high-density residential housing. The commission did approve rezoning of 116 Osceola Avenue, but the interested buyers of the property said they would not have enough room with just that additional lot.

“I was unaware what the site plans were until about a month ago,” Huss said. “When I learned what was being developed, I thought this is not going to go over well with the people of Reed City. I knew when signing the agreement back in October that people were going to be upset by the simple fact that Dairy Depot has been in the same location for over 50 years.”

Huss had never intended to relocate the shop but saw an opportunity to create a new indoor location to extend their seasonal hours when the idea was initially introduced.

“It was never my intention to relocate, as our property was not listed for sale. Instead, we were approached by a commercial realtor informing me of a buyer that was interested in the property. Upon learning the interested buyer would be using strictly the land for development was when I made the (initial) decision to relocate.”

Following this series of events, Huss says he will not consider relocating the shop but instead “branch off a new business venture” for a larger operation.