SHERMAN, Texas (KXII) – It’s been one Halloween since a fire destroyed Kelly Square in downtown Sherman.
Since that Halloween night, businesses inside have started looking for other ways to stay afloat.
“The challenge was getting people to know we were here again,” said Beth Ward, owner of Wolverine Comics. We are open again.
Beth Ward wasn’t sure she’d say those words again after a fire in Kelly Square caused extensive smoke damage to her comedy store.
“We retired and opened the Kelly Square store with everything we had,” Ward said.
Other businesses, such as Fulbelly, have not fully reopened.
TJ LaRosa is the owner of Kelly Square and Fulbelly Restaurant, which last year sold wine dinners and cakes and pies.
“It was a struggle,” LaRosa said. “Obviously, without having an operational restaurant, day in and day out, you know you’re in and out. Believe it or not, we were signed by an insurance company in September, which proved to be a challenge in itself.
As for the building, LaRosa said it is slated for demolition next week.
“We took down all the drywall, took down all the electrical, and put the building into a building shell,” LaRosa said.
A year later, both business owners say they are the people who keep them going.
“Our customers are fun to be around,” Ward said. “They are happy to be here. We are happy to be here.
“I appreciate everyone’s support, just the phone call,” LaRosa said. This morning he said, ‘Hey. Hope everything is good. It’s been a year. It’s a big community. it’s true.” Halloween marks one year since Kelly Square in downtown Sherman was severely damaged by fire.
Since that Halloween night, businesses inside have started looking for other ways to stay afloat.
“The challenge was getting people to know we were here again,” said Beth Ward, owner of Wolverine Comics. We are open again.
Beth Ward wasn’t sure she’d say those words again after a fire in Kelly Square caused extensive smoke damage to her comedy store.
“We retired and opened the Kelly Square store with everything we had,” Ward said.
Other businesses, such as Fulbelly, have not fully reopened.
TJ LaRosa is the owner of Kelly Square and Fulbelly Restaurant, which last year sold wine dinners and cakes and pies.
“It was a struggle,” LaRosa said. “Obviously, without having an operational restaurant, day in and day out, you know you’re in and out. Believe it or not, we were signed by an insurance company in September, which proved to be a challenge in itself.
As for the building, LaRosa said it is slated for demolition next week.
“We took down all the drywall, took down all the electrical, and put the building into a building shell,” LaRosa said.
A year later, both business owners say they are the people who keep them going.
“Our customers are fun to be around,” Ward said. “They are happy to be here. We are happy to be here.
“I appreciate everyone’s support, just the phone call,” LaRosa said. This morning he said, ‘Hey. Hope everything is good. It’s been a year. It’s a big community. It is true.”
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