Emergency demolition begins on collapsing home, former bar
SUBMITTED PHOTO - The rear portion of the old Matuza's Bar is seen during demolition on June 11, 2025.
SHENANDOAH – A collapsing Shenandoah property is being brought down Wednesday as officials feared it would soon fall into the street.
The old Matuza’s Bar at Coal and Chestnut Streets has been abandoned for years and the area around it had been cordoned off since April.
Borough Manager Mike Cadau said the borough ordered an emergency demolition on the property, nothing that recent rains had exacerbated concerns.
“It’s getting to the point right now, that particular home has to come down,” Cadau said. “It was going to hurt somebody.”
Crews were working on demolition Wednesday afternoon and Sentinel readers shared video as the rear portion fell into the street.
Cadau said the cost of the emergency demolition is not yet known and he plans to recoup the costs through either grants or liens.
The three listed owners of the property are deceased.
Taxes haven’t been paid on the property since 2005 and the last member of the ownership group passed away in 2022.
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