Neepawa ‘in a state of shock’ after Home Hardware fire
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 27/02/2015 (3846 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
As many as 12 full- and part-time workers are out of a job, according to the Neepawa Chamber of Commerce, as the town comes to terms with the loss of one of its largest retail outlets.
Crews started cleaning up what’s left of the Home Hardware building on Thursday afternoon after a massive blaze destroyed the store on Wednesday night.
There were also four apartments on the second floor of the building, leaving some homeless, though the RCMP say no one was injured and the Office of the Fire Commissioner says it’s still under investigation.
“Everybody’s just in a state of shock,” said Sheri Grant, past-president of the Neepawa Chamber of Commerce.
The fire is considered to be the largest in Neepawa since the Hamilton Hotel went up in flames in February 2004.
“Every business is important in a small town and this is a huge loss for Neepawa,” Grant said. “We’re not without service, but we’re without that well-known brand.”
Grant also owns a building at the end of same block on Mountain Avenue, the town’s main shopping drag. There are several businesses on the same block, including a coffee shop and flower shop, which were open Thursday, but there was minimal water damage to a pizza place immediately next door to the Home Hardware.
Grant’s building, three doors down from the destroyed hardware store, sustained some smoke damage and the smell remains in most parts of her two-storey building.
Pat and Laurie Gilbert purchased this Home Hardware location in 2008, according to the brand’s website. The couple was not immediately available for comment. Grant said the owners were in talks with Home Hardware corporate officials Thursday.
The Home Hardware store first opened in Neepawa in 1985.
The owners have two children, Grant said.
“I think there’s going to be a period of time where it’s going to have to settle in for some people,” she said.
Grant said she spoke to one employee who told her they weren’t sure what they were going to do next.
“In a small town, jobs are few and far between and certainly a huge concern to lose 10-12 jobs, those aren’t easily replaced.”
There are about 3,500 people living in Neepawa.
» gbruce@brandonsun.com
» Twitter: @grjbruce