McKenzie Business Owner Opens Up About Assault, Building Condemnation

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McKENZIE (July 2, 2024) — A McKenzie business owner is fighting for his right to continue operating his business downtown after the City of McKenzie condemned his building while he was recovering at home from an aggravated assault and robbery that happened in November 2023.

Jack Martin, 93, owner of Jack Martin Jewelry, located on Cedar Street in McKenzie has been working nights with help from construction workers to repair his building after bricks fell from it earlier this year. 

Martin says the extreme cold snap caused the mortar to crumble which resulted in bricks falling from the building. 

The City of McKenzie gave him three options:

• Martin could tear it down and leave it empty.
• The city would tear it down (and take ownership of it).
• He could tear it down and rebuild.

Martin chose to tear it down and rebuild. He has been working daily on his building with help from friends and a construction crew to rebuild the building stronger than it was before. 

He says he’s used stronger wood than was there previously, poured a new concrete foundation, reinforced the structure, and is adding metal siding that matches the building adjacent to it, which he also owns.

Martin also said that despite the effort and progress he’s made on the structure, McKenzie Codes Officer Jim Seaton has continued to visit him and inform Martin the city will “lock the doors on his business” or “tear down his building.”

McKenzie Mayor Ryan Griffin, City Recorder Jennifer Waldrup and Codes Officer Jim Seaton visited Martin after the condemnation meeting to compel him to sign a document stating that he received a letter notifying him of the condemnation hearing. Martin signed the document but says he had no prior knowledge of  the condemnation meeting, and was not able to attend because he was recovering at home from the November assault.

After Seaton paid Martin another visit on Tuesday afternoon, Martin drove to The McKenzie Banner to share his story with the citizens of McKenzie.

Martin does not want to lose his business or his building. He says that after his wife died 10 years ago, coming downtown to open his business and see his friends is what he looks forward to every day. It gives him something to do instead of sitting at home.

The 93-year-old man, who fought off a 32-year-old burglar last November was unwavering in his recount of the events that have transpired up until this point; but when talking about the prospect of not being able to spend time with his friends in the space he’s owned for decades downtown tears started to form in the corner of his eyes.

Martin has a long history of owning businesses and working in other businesses. He once owned a car dealership downtown and also worked at the former Tri-County Motors in downtown with J.W. Atkins, Sr. Then, he worked at Gary Simmons's automotive dealership and was one of the top salesmen. He feels he has invested his time and service in McKenzie, but now he is faced with the fact that the city wants to condemn and tear down his building.

Martin credits his survival of the attack to McKenzie Police Department’s quick response and life-saving measures. He believes that the burglar intended to kill him.

The November attack has left Martin with mobility issues. He cannot stand for long periods and walking is painful. During the struggle, Martin’s attacker threw him to the ground, and Martin is still being treated for the resulting injury to his back.

However, while showing The Banner the updates to his building, he walked on his own as he pointed out key pieces of the construction progress.

Martin says he just wants to operate his business downtown, see his friends and be left alone. 

He hopes that sharing his story will help shed light on what is happening and halt the condemnation process while he tries to rebuild. 

Thank you, Jack Martin, for sharing your story.

This is a developing story.