The sidewalk and metered parking beside the Bourse Building on Eighth Street near the Asbury Avenue intersection are barricaded as a precautionary measure.
Barricades block pedestrian access to the sidewalk along Eighth Street between Asbury and Central avenues.
The exterior wall of the brick building appears to be bulging outward between the first and second floors.
The area was cordoned off when it was noticed that brick facade of the three-story building above the sidewalk was bulging outward, according to Ocean City Police Capt. Steve Ang.
Work crews were on hand at the site Monday afternoon, bracing the side of the building.
“Hopefully, it will be a minor wall repair,” said Joel A. Mott III, the building's owner. We're waiting for an engineer's report. Better safe than sorry.”
All businesses within the building remain open.
The Bourse Building was constructed in 1895 and was originally home to Frank Darby Real Estate, Maddock’s Pharmacy, and Hole in the Wall by the Sea Light Lunch, according to Michael McMahon, an Ocean City Historical Museum trustee. It later was home to the first national chain store in Ocean City: G.C Murphy’s 5 & 10, which opened circa 1930.
