Residents woke up to the news of an intentional explosion in a recreational vehicle. The impact hit Second Avenue, a street full of historic buildings. About 41 businesses in the area were damaged.
The couple owns Simply the Best, a trinket and souvenir shop frequented by tourists since 2011 and moved their boutique Ensemble Nashville to next door in March.
Peter Gibson, owner of Pride and Glory Tattoo, is his neighbor down the street and his business has also suffered significant damage.
“This year has been difficult,” Gibson told Natasha Chen of CNN. “Obviously, it is a little below normal. But just when we have a little light at the end of the tunnel, everything disappears in two seconds.”
The owners are hopeful of government help. In the meantime, GoFundMe accounts are helping companies and employees.
Trying to understand the devastation
Sandy Lee told CNN that they were shocked by the photos of the damage and had to use a map to identify their own businesses. She said they haven’t been able to see their business yet and won’t be able to for 7 to 10 days and only if the buildings are stable.
“From the angles and images we got first, we were trying to count the stores, trying to recognize something from the iconic old buildings,” she said. “We were trying to count back.”
The day after the explosion, the pair thought their business was closed. But after seeing feedback from community members and past customers, it made them think they could rebuild, according to Sandy.
“We live off the economy this year, we make sure the team is working and we pay as much as we can, we pay all our bills and rent. We have all of our inventory, well, what remains of it made sacrifices to ensure it was open every day. so that employees could work, because they need money. ”
Gibson and Lees closed due to the coronavirus pandemic for a few months and reopened in early summer. But they didn’t see the volume of customers they were used to.
“There is nothing about it that makes sense,” said Gibson. “I’m just trying to wrap my head in every bit of it. As I always say, one foot in front of the other, just trying to take it day by day, moment by moment.”
How to help
Even though GIbson and the Lee have lost the best part of their buildings, with the encouragement of others, they say they are determined to rebuild.
“It seems appropriate to have some federal assistance to get these companies back on their feet,” Mayor John Cooper said on CNN’s “New Day”.
As this federal aid might look like, it is not clear at this point.
So far, the company has raised $ 50,000, according to owner Ryan Kroon.
“We wanted to be the first to raise a hand to help, said Kroon.” The answer was crazy, it surprised me.
CNN’s Natasha Chen contributed to this report.