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Pocono News Section
Fire Damages Country Junction
Fire Damages Country Junction - Thursday, November 27, 2008 at 4:40PM EST
WILKES-BARRE TOWNSHIP, LUZERNE COUNTY --The timing couldn't have been worse. The day before the busy holiday shopping season begins, fire damages a furniture store. The fire started early Thursday morning at the Country Junction. It hasn't been confirmed, but the store's owner tells me an electrical problem may have sparked the fire. Either way --it's damaged a building --and destroyed his hopes for a profitable holiday shopping season.
Water may have spared the furniture from catching fire but made a mess of it's own inside Country Junction in Wilkes-Barre Township. Co-owner Darrin Gallagher Says “we expect a pretty heavy loss when it comes to our inventory."
Crews doused the flames before dawn Thursday but not before the elaborate facade was destroyed. Most of the actual building was only damaged by smoke and water. Even where there's not standing water, you can hear the carpet is soaked. There's water on the furniture."
Gallagher says "the timing is terrible it's a holiday for one and it's Black Friday tomorrow which is the busiest retail time."
The Quizno's sandwich shop next door was soaked too. Owner Margaret Sikovic says “we're going to get people to clean it up and open soon. We need to for the holidays."
This is the second fire to hit a Country Junction in two years. The Lehighton location still hasn't been rebuilt after a fire in October 2006. Co-owner Darrin Gallagher hopes it will take less time to get this one back open.
In the meantime, he promises to take care of the hundreds of customers expected to pick up furniture this upcoming week. “Anyone who pre-purchased something will get new conditioned furniture." While Gallagher assesses the fire's damage to the his store --and his holiday sales.
35 people work at the country junction. Gallagher says he may use some of them to help clean up.
If anyone has questions about the furniture they ordered, they can call the store tomorrow at 570-823-1900. If that number doesn’t work, call 610-377-5050. | | |
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