Templeton Feed & Grain will be remodeled after fire — without iconic warehouse
The silhouette of Templeton Feed and Grain is onthe seal of the town’s community service district — but residents may not ever get to see the iconic 105-foot-tall wooden warehouse of the granary in person again.
What once stood as a landmark high above Templeton’s skyline since the 1950s has turned into rubble and debris following an alleged act of arson late on the Fourth of July involving four juvenile males.
The fire was started by fireworks, which sparked a multi-day operation by local firefighters to put out the fire. An emergency demolition of the gutted building then followed, leaving behind only the granary’s one-story original concrete structure that was built over 100 years ago andwhich acted as the business’ storefront.
Rick Jermin, co-owner of Templeton Feed & Grain, said the family is leaving the warehouse and silos out of the picture as itplans to remodel the original storefront in the heart of downtown within the next year.
“I don’t want it out there like we’re going to rebuild it exactly the way it is or way it was,” Jermin said. “It’s just not feasible.”
The decision to not rebuilt the granary’s warehouse structure was due to the cost of a storage space that is no longer needed for the business, Jermin said, and the unlikelihood of getting a permit for it.
Since the business will no longer be manufacturing from Templeton, the Jermin family has partnered with Penny Newman Co. to help continue making its special products. Penny Newman Co. has facilities throughout California in Stockton, Modesto, Fresno and Hanford, its website says.
What happens to the granary’s retail business?
The Jermin family wants to reopen its original storefront to sell their products from within the next year.
Jermin said the family plans to begin remodeling the original one-story concrete building, which had been partially damaged following the fire and demolition of the connecting warehouse.
He said he wants to keep the front wall of the remaining building and remodel from behind.
The entire granary had not been insured for about two to three years after the family was notified that its policy would not be renewed,Jermin said. This time around, he wants to make sure that both the remodeled storefront and its products will be insured.
“From the road front it’s going to appear to be the same exact building,” Jermin said. “But it’s going to be much safer.”
In the meantime, Nature’s Touch Nursery and Harvest has lent part of its property for the Jermin family to sell from following the demolition of the granary.
Jermin said in the next three weeks, Weyrick Lumber Company on upper Main Street is going to lend the family business a building to use following the clean-up of the rubble and debris at the original granary site and the remodeling period to come.
Local landfill waiving fees for disposal of building’s remains
Chicago Grade Landfill, a landfill company located near Atascadero, is waiving all of the expenses needed for disposing the waste from the demolition site, according to Jermin.
The landfill company is helping to reach out to loading truck companies in the area to collect all of the remaining debris in the next three weeks, hesaid.
Jermin said the landfill company estimated that it would take 125 to 150 truckloads of rubble and debris to clear out the site.
“That’s a huge expense that the family was worried about,” Jermin said.
He added that they needed to clean up soon due to the “foul smell” created once the grain begins to decompose.
Templeton Feed and Grain owner asks for no donations from public
Although he appreciates the generosity, Jermin said he will not accepting donations to rebuild the structure at this time.
“We don’t want to accept any donation under the assumption that we’re going to build the iconic wood structure,” Jermin said.
He said that maybe down the line the family business will begin fundraising for its remodeling project of the original storefront, but for now he wants to wait until then.
“My goal and our family’s goal is to get back onto that property as soon as possible,” Jermin said.
This story was originally published July 22, 2025 at 9:00 AM.
