Future of Arizona town stuck in time is uncertain

LOWELL, Ariz. — An Arizona town frozen in time is facing an uncertain future. 

Visitors from various parts of the globe visit Erie Street located in Lowell district of Bisbee to capture photographs alongside the classic cars parked along the road. This place serves as a vibrant display of American culture, centered around a historical copper mine.

Freeport McMoRan owns the mine and most of the buildings in Lowell, including the one housing the Bisbee Breakfast Club. It is the only restaurant on Erie Street and employees recently learned that Freeport would not renew their lease come September.

“It’s going to be really heartbreaking to me,” said Mitzi Satterfield, general manager of the Bisbee Breakfast Club. “I have put everything into this restaurant and it’s my heart and soul.” 

Lowell resident Jay Allen is also concerned about the town he helped revive. Many of the vintage cars on Erie Street belong to him. 

“I watched it die the slowest death you can imagine, back when the mines pulled out around ’74, this was nothing,” Allen said. “At some point, people came to Bisbee and said this place has promise. One group even said this could be another Telluride, but trust me, it was a beat-up old shoe.” 

Today, that “beat up old shoe” has become one of Arizona’s most photographed streets. 

The handful of businesses in Lowell are banding together, hoping Freeport will change its mind or sell the building to the Bisbee Breakfast Club. 

“The owner is more than willing to accept every form of liability possible,” Allen said. 

He is gathering signatures from Cochise County officials and plans to send a letter to the CEO of Freeport. Allen said his goal is to prevent Lowell from becoming a ghost town once again.

“They are not the big bad witch, they are just a big mining company and I don’t think they realize what Lowell is and what we are going to do is show them,” Allen said. 

In a statement to 12News, Freeport spokesperson Jim Telle said: 

“Freeport owns about 20 parcels or buildings within the Lowell District. The lease of one tenant is scheduled to expire in late 2025. That tenant has been made aware we will not be renewing the lease because of the aging condition of the building. We have been supporting the tenant in relocating.

Over the past 16 years, Freeport has acquired several properties in the Lowell District near Freeport’s historic mining operations. These properties were acquired based on their proximity to the adjacent Freeport-owned mining operations as an additional safety buffer due to anticipated continued subsidence around the perimeter of the existing open pit.

After the occupant has vacated the building, Freeport will work to safely secure the property and minimize the potential for vandalization.  We anticipate that the structure will eventually be torn down, leaving the façade intact.

Given the age and condition of some buildings Freeport owns in Lowell, the structures have become increasingly challenging to safely maintain. Several structures are in deteriorating condition, and each will be evaluated.

Resumption of mining is not in Freeport’s current plans.” 

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