New pavement and property investments bring changes to North Eaton Street
By Maggie LaNoue – Contributing Writer
October 16, 2026
Motorists entering Albion from Interstate 94 Exit 121 are finding a changing landscape along North Eaton Street. New pavement, commercial property purchases, building construction and renovation, and water-main replacement are altering the look of one of the city’s principal entrances.
The corridor is also an everyday destination for Albion residents, with businesses offering groceries, restaurant meals, automotive sales and services, and supplies for homes, gardens and farms. Rent-A-Center, in the Tractor Supply shopping center, accepts Amazon returns as well.
Detour signs remain along the route as water-main replacement and pavement reconstruction continue farther south on Eaton Street. That project has been covered in earlier reports, but other changes are already visible at businesses along the commercial corridor.
Near McDonald’s, the shopping center west of Eaton Street has new pavement, replacing parking areas that had been riddled with potholes for years. Nearby Bemer Street, which runs past College Chevrolet, has also been repaved. During the pandemic years, its deteriorating surface made the street difficult to navigate. The fresh surface is a welcome change for neighboring businesses and their customers.
Across Eaton Street, a new Dairy Queen stands where a Burger King sat closed for years before it was demolished. The property at 1508 N. Eaton St. was purchased in May 2024 for $335,000 by TMT Haidous Brothers LLC, whose mailing address is in Indiana.
Continuing along the corridor, motorists pass Taco Bell and the former Sunnies building, where exterior renovations are underway following its May 4 sale to Raina Sandwich Albion LLC for $675,000.
The most dramatic change may be the expansive new parking lot at the Tractor Supply shopping center. Fresh black asphalt now covers an area where shoppers once navigated deep potholes and crumbling pavement.
Together, the Sunnies sale and a larger September transaction account for nearly $2.5 million in commercial property sales along North Eaton Street this year.
On Sept. 1, Albion Plaza Group LLC purchased three parcels from Albion Investments LLC for a combined $1.8 million. The properties include the Tractor Supply shopping center at 1450 N. Eaton St., 1506 N. Eaton St. and 1408 Wiener Drive.
Albion Plaza Group LLC was formed Aug. 3, less than a month before the purchase.
The three-parcel transaction was documented in the city assessor’s September sales report, included in the Oct. 19 Albion City Council packet. The $1.8 million is the purchase price alone and does not include the cost of paving or other improvements.
Wiener Drive is familiar to many shoppers as the rear entrance to Family Fare. Portions of the access road have been repaved, improving another route into the shopping area.
Albion City Council member Vivian Davis, who represents Precinct 5, where the Tractor Supply shopping center is located, said the shopping center’s new owner invested in pavement improvements near Tractor Supply. Davis also said there are plans to budget for repaving the remaining city-owned portion of Wiener Drive next spring.
Meanwhile, City Manager Dr. Sheryl Theriot commented on the city’s construction work and its disruption to businesses and motorists.
“The construction along one of Albion’s main business corridors was much needed, and we’re pleased to see the progress taking shape,” Theriot said. “We recognize that the work was at times disruptive to local businesses and vehicle traffic, and we truly appreciate everyone’s patience throughout the process.”
Debbie Kelly, president and CEO of the Albion Economic Development Corporation, said the community’s growing visibility could encourage further investment.
“Our community has tremendous potential, and increased visibility creates opportunities to attract new investment, strengthen our business community, and build on the momentum we’re creating,” Kelly said.
Much attention has focused on redevelopment in Albion’s century-old downtown, where historic buildings are being restored or prepared for new uses. But the newer North Eaton Street commercial corridor has also changed considerably since 2020, when deteriorating pavement and vacant buildings were familiar sights.
Today, new businesses, property investments and infrastructure work are reshaping this entrance to the city. For residents who remember navigating its worn-out streets and parking lots, the difference is easy to see.
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