Already cleared and vacated for demolition, buildings along Fry Street’s main block were stripped of their last valuable pieces Saturday in hopes that at least the memories they held won’t be destroyed.

Fry Street’s main block is scheduled to be bulldozed starting June 25, and volunteers for Habitat for Humanity of Denton County worked diligently Saturday to salvage building materials and other parts from within the stores.

“They’re actually taking away a whole piece of Denton that’s never going to be the same,” volunteer Janice Light of Denton said.

DRC/Gary Payne

Habitat for Humanity ReStore volunteer Curt Fowler pries off wood panels from the wall of The Tomato on Saturday. Materials salvaged by volunteers will be sold in a benefit auction on Friday.

Light said helping pick apart the Fry Street buildings ignited old memories. She remembers when The Tomato was called The Flying Tomato and Bagheri’s Italian Restaurant was Jim’s Diner.

But Habitat is helping make the best of the situation, volunteers said.

Habitat officials negotiated with the developers of the new Fry Street development to auction some of the salvaged items Friday to benefit Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit dedicated to providing housing for the poor. Other usable building materials will be sold through Habitat’s ReStore, which sells new and used construction materials.

Chuck Buttram, director of the ReStore, said the organization often takes material from individual homes, but this is the first project of this magnitude.

“This is the one with the most significant historical value,” he said.

Erica Brakebill of Allen, a University of North Texas alumna, said she used to date a man who frequented Treasure Aisles comic book store. Now clearing out the last of the books in the store, she said it was a little unnerving and sad.

“I wanted to see it before it was torn down — my old stomping grounds,” she said.

The project has met resistance from Denton residents and UNT students and alumni, who say the eclectic Fry Street area, just across the street from the university, is a one-of-a-kind home to mom-and-pop restaurants, bars and stores.

Some of Saturday’s volunteers were not from Denton but could tell by the messages written on some of the buildings that the community had strong feelings about the impending development.

“The graffiti on the wall tells you a lot, that people aren’t too happy about change,” said Vicki Baumgard of Flower Mound.

Summer Light, who graduated from Denton High School last month, said that while she’s sad to see some of her favorite places close, possibly forever, others have found newer, nicer facilities to use and are doing fine. But things are definitely going to be different, she said.

“It’s going to change the types of people that come here,” Light said. “The whole environment, the block, will be weird to be around.”

Volunteers salvaged as many “family-friendly” graffiti-ridden planks and wall pieces from The Tomato restaurant as possible, as well as ceiling tiles, signs, wires and cords, books, cabinets, sinks and a mannequin from surrounding buildings.

Buttram said Habitat would also be able to auction The Tomato’s copper fireplace, one item that didn’t sell in an auction The Tomato held earlier this year.

Buttram is trying to figure out how to salvage five cinderblock murals of past icons like John Wayne and the Beatles, each approximately 4 by 4 feet, at the former Bagheri’s restaurant patio.

He said Habitat would not tear down any structural pieces, such as supporting beams or bricks, but would auction off anything savable that might fall off during the salvaging process. More volunteers are expected to return Saturday after the auction to salvage any remaining materials.

In 12 months, Habitat’s ReStore, also known as Bart’s Barn, diverted 284 tons of material that would have ended up in the Denton landfill, Buttram said. The money raised in the ReStore is used to buy building materials for Habitat houses.

SARAH CHACKO can be reached at 940-566-6876. Her e-mail address is schacko@dentonrc.com.

HOW TO HELP

Volunteers are still needed to help Habitat for Humanity of Denton County tear down and salvage materials from several Fry Street buildings scheduled for demolition. Work will take place from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, and volunteers will meet at Fry and Hickory streets.

To volunteer, contact Chuck Buttram, director of the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, at dentonrestore@yahoo.com or 940-382-8487.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY AUCTION

What: Auction of materials salvaged from Fry Street buildings scheduled to be torn down

When: 7 p.m. Friday

Where: Behind The Tomato restaurant at the corner of Fry and Hickory streets

For more information: Contact Chuck Buttram at dentonrestore@yahoo.com or 940-382-8487.