The old Sutton’s restaurant building on the south end of the Danville bypass has been demolished by the property owner.

City Manager Ron Scott confirmed Thursday morning that Coastal Advertising Inc. — a Canoga Park, California, company — has “complied with our code enforcement directive to raze the property.”

The building served as Woody’s Steakhouse and then Sutton’s restaurant in the late 2000s. It was also a used car lot for a brief period after Sutton’s had relocated to Lexington, where the restaurant is still in operation. It was condemned in June 2016, due to collapse of an air system on the roof and the property not being maintained, according to city officials. 

Code Enforcement Officer Tom Broach said prior to demolition that the sky was visible through the roof from inside the building.

Coastal Advertising was given 90 days to comply with a demolition order after condemnation on June 17, 2016. Delays in compliance with the demolition order led city commissioners earlier this year to consider paying for the demolition with city funds and placing a lien on the property. Broach said at the time that Coastal Advertising was having difficulty finding a local demolition company that would work for it. 

In mid-November, Code Enforcement Director Bridgette Lester informed city commissioners Coastal Advertising had contracted with MAS Excavating to demolish the building.

Scott has said previously that removal of the “eyesore” had area economic development leaders “excited” because the area is ripe for new business prospects.

Holiday Inn Express and Cattleman’s Steakhouse have both opened across the bypass from the Sutton’s location within the last 12 months. A buffalo-wings-themed restaurant, Buffalo Wings and Rings, is planning to seek approval to build a new location next to Cattleman’s during the December Planning and Zoning meeting.