The owner of Rite Zone discount store, where an electrical fire started early this morning at 8572 Greenwood Ave. N., tells us he did not have insurance for the business.
Rite Zone Owner David Hu said he’s owned the business for about five years. When his four-year lease expired last year he tried to sell but didn’t have any luck. He let his insurance lapse during that time. Earlier today, fire investigators estimated the damage at about $100,000 to the building and $200,000 to the contents.
Inside Rite Zone, broken plates and other items littered the floor.
Smoke and water damage is also affecting New’s Noodles and Wayward Coffeehouse, the businesses on either side. I stopped by early this afternoon and found Wayward Assistant Manager Nicole Schmidt standing outside the coffee shop’s wide open garage door wall, airing out the smell of smoke.
The power is still out to the building, and Schmidt said they don’t know yet when Wayward will be able to reopen. There was standing water on the floor.
On the other side of Rite Zone, New’s Noodles’ front door is boarded up after this morning’s massive firefighter response.
16 responses so far ↓
1 Greenwood // Nov 22, 2010 at 3:25 pm
This totally sucks.
2 Iron City Mike // Nov 22, 2010 at 3:55 pm
Anyone want to buy a house in Greenwood cheap? This is very frustrating. And “No insurance” again??? Didn’t people learn the lesson from the arson spree last year? Wonder if News and Wayward have insurance. Feel for these people but Greenwood is losing businesses at an alarming rate.
3 Shawna J. // Nov 22, 2010 at 4:00 pm
A quote from the asst. manager: “Hey guys, thanks for the well wishing
So you know we still don’t have any concrete info but we’ve been told that the fire was an accidental electric fire.”
4 Torrey // Nov 22, 2010 at 4:57 pm
I have heard that the Wayward was insured, and are awaiting word from their insurer, contractors, etc., as to when they will be able to reopen.
For the NaNoWriMo writers out there who have cram-packed the Wayward every Tuesday this month: where do we want to write this week? Thoughts/suggestions welcome on the NaNoWriMo forum (http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/3719460 ).
5 Tiktok // Nov 22, 2010 at 5:40 pm
I’m amazed at the seeming lack of insurance among small business owners. Do they have loans from a bank? If you get a mortgage, you have to have homeowners insurance.
6 Greenwood // Nov 22, 2010 at 10:41 pm
Why does everyone always go for the blame angle? It’s bizarre.
7 Anon // Nov 22, 2010 at 11:14 pm
“Why does everyone always go for the blame angle? It’s bizarre.”
Oh that’s easy. Nothing makes us feel smarter than seeing how dumb other people are. And seriously — that is some Adam Sandler-level of stupid going on, to own a business and NOT have fire insurance, especially after a year of arson.
8 anotherneighbor // Nov 22, 2010 at 11:53 pm
Ok, I’ll admit I don’t know how this works, but – if he was renting the space, wouldn’t the landlord have insurance on it?
Totally sucks… poor guy..
9 Up The Road // Nov 23, 2010 at 12:11 am
@anotherneighbor: The building owner would have insurance on the building. That would cover the building itself, not the businesses inside of it. It would only compensate the business owner if the fire was caused by the building itself. If the business owner plugs in something that starts the fire, then the building policy would not cover him at all. It’s like getting renter’s insurance when you live in an apartment.
10 Randy // Nov 23, 2010 at 12:12 pm
Total bummer. Wayward is one of my favorite coffee houses, since it’s open late, has friendly service and is one of the best meeting places in Greenwood. Hope you’re back on your feet soon, Wayward!
11 anotherneighbor // Nov 23, 2010 at 12:25 pm
@Up The Road – thanks. What a bummer….
12 Karl // Nov 23, 2010 at 5:06 pm
Really bummed to see Wayward closed this afternoon. I hope the damage isn’t bad and they are on their feet soonest! One of the best coffeehouses in the city.
13 Joel // Nov 23, 2010 at 9:27 pm
Wayward is a great place to gather for iPhone and Mac developers —
I wish them well for getting things back together soon.
14 Tiktok // Nov 23, 2010 at 10:48 pm
It’s the ‘blame angle’ because when you do stupid things that affect other people…you get blamed. People can only learn from other people’s mistakes only if those mistakes are clearly identified.
15 Ben // Nov 24, 2010 at 2:19 pm
Is News Noodles still closed? They’ve got some of the best Pho soup around. Hope they can re-open soon.
16 jessica // Nov 24, 2010 at 8:58 pm
RIGHT ON RANDY>>Total bummer. Wayward is one of my favorite coffee houses, since it’s open late, has friendly service and is one of the best meeting places in Greenwood. Hope you’re back on your feet soon, Wayward!
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