Flames ripped through the historic three-story building early Saturday, wiping out three businesses inside. (KFSN)
By Cory James
Saturday, October 15, 2016 11:25PM
KINGSBURG, Calif. (KFSN) -- Common Ground Coffee House and other businesses in Downtown Kingsburg, CA were destroyed overnight Saturday after the building they were in went up in flames. Flames ripped through the historic three-story building, wiping out three businesses inside.
One of those businesses was Common Ground Coffee House. Debra Rodriquez managed it and said seeing the shop that changed her life destroyed is heartbreaking.
"I went through a period of depression," she recounted. "My daughter volunteered me to come and volunteer and I came kicking and screaming but it changed my life."
Pictures taken inside show some of the damage inside the three-year-old coffee shop. Rodriguez estimates the total loss is over a $100,000 for her business alone.
"I know the whole roof has completely caved in but I'm not too sure about our equipment," she said.
The fire that burned the 100-year-old building for hours and brought out firefighters from four different departments. The property loss of the entire building is valued at about $1 million.
It's shocking news for nearby businesses like Blend Wine Room who know this could have easily happened to them.
"It was just kind of sad to see," Megan Letson with the business said. "They've been neighbors and it's such a small town feel here I just feel really bad for them and I hope they will rebuild soon."
And Rodriguez has faith that they will.
"God will reward us," she said. "He's going to take something away and reward us with some better and bigger."