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CORALVILLE, Iowa (KCRG) – Business owners are picking up the pieces after a fire destroyed a building in Coralville.
The fire broke out Saturday night in the 300 block of Second Street, also known as US Highway 6. It displaced 17 people who live on the upper level. On the lower level were several commercial areas including A-1 Uniform and Tax Plus.
Beth Cody, owner of A-1 Uniforms, said her business was not affected by the fire, but was not affected by the efforts to put it out. “[Fire crews] I had to use so much water to put it out that my warehouse was completely flooded and destroyed.” Cody said.
Tax Plus owner Marlene Perrin was in a similar situation. “All we got was water damage, but we have to get out, we have to get out fast,” Perrin said.
There’s never a good time for a business to be shut down by fire, but Perrin said this happened at a particularly bad time.
“The big problem is that all the income tax extensions are at the end of this week. And at the end of the month all the quarterly reports are due. So we’re very busy. It’s not a good time to go out of business,” Perrin said.
The fire and cleanup cost Perrin’s business several days of work. She’s moving into a new building, and he predicts she’ll be able to adjust, even if it’s a shock.
“I think we’re going to be fine, but it’s a little scary,” Perrin said.
While the documents behind the Perrine trade remained largely dry, it was a different story in A-1’s uniform.
“I have over $50,000 worth of destroyed inventory,” Cody said. “All the roof tiles and panels fell. And they drank and parted. And they are all on the ground. And there’s just rubble everywhere.”
Cody has insurance, but is still unsure of what the future holds.
“I think it covers things,” Cody said. “But I don’t know if they are going to demolish the whole building. And what I really want is whether I can stay here or find a new place or a temporary place. It’s all up in the air at this point.”
As her business has taken off, Cody is grateful. “You know, for me, it’s just my business. And the people who live upstairs have lost their homes and now there are 17 people who are homeless. And I feel very lucky that it wasn’t my house that was damaged and destroyed,” Cody said.
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