A four-alarm fire struck Denton’s historic downtown square before the sun rose Tuesday morning, damaging at least three businesses. There were no reports of injuries, but business owners are trying to figure out the extent of the damage.
Denton’s large Downtown Mini Mall is home to several small vendors and the building may have been hardest hit.
“It’s a huge store, probably … 50 foot by 100 feet deep,” said Julie Glover, the city’s business development manager. “And it was filled with little booths, lots of books and papers and coins and records and vintage clothing. Everything in there was flammable.”
And, says city spokesperson Jessica Rogers, all of it was destroyed.
“Our economic development department has been in contact with all the business owners downtown, keeping them informed,” Rogers said. “But we don’t have any specific idea of when the businesses are going to be able to reopen.”
At least two other businesses next to the Downtown Mini Mall were also directly affected – the La Di Da Boutique and Jupiter House Coffee.
Glover says other businesses may also have been affected, but that’s still being investigated. The cause of the fire is also under investigation.
“At this point, the front and back façade are still standing,” Glover said. “At one point I was told the back façade could have to come down. It looks like they might be able to save those.”
Nearby upstairs apartments were damaged and some residents have been forced out of their homes. The extent of the damage isn’t clear – also unclear as of Tuesday afternoon: the number of residents affected.
