(La Porte, IN) - A once-landmark retail facility turned eyesore in La Porte is no more, as the old Strieter’s Sales and Service building on the city’s west side has officially been demolished.

For a long time, the former business on Indiana 2 sold lawnmowers and other lawn care products, but after closing the building had been empty for many years.

The property is now owned by Kabelin Ace Hardware, which is right next to the site.

Mayor Tom Dermody noted that a lot of complaints had been made about the abandoned structure over the years.

“For those coming into the community from the west they’ll no longer see that building, which has been empty and in disarray for some time,” he said.

Dermody would not shed light on how that property could be used in the future but did say that the La Porte Economic Advancement Partnership worked to obtain a couple of grants from the city to assist Kabelin Ace Hardware in redeveloping the site.