
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, April 23, 1993                   TAG: 9304230334
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-1   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: KATHY LOAN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG                                LENGTH: Short

FIRE BURNS OUT CLOTHING STORES

Ed Sherman stood behind a fire truck Thursday morning watching firefighters bring out smoldering items from his North Franklin Street building that houses Sherman's men's clothing and Smithman's women's clothing.

The fire, discovered about 7:20 a.m. by a volunteer firefighter who was on his way to work, destroyed the interior of the stores and their inventories, Fire Chief Jim Epperly said.

While the building appears to be structurally sound, the fire chief said "he's lost his entire inventory."

The building had housed the two clothing stores for about seven years, Sherman said. Previously, the businesses had been on Main Street.

"We'll rebuild. We'l be back in business," Sherman said. "Whatever it takes."

Sherman said work would begin to restore the building and he hopes to reopen by Aug. 1.

Epperly said the fire appeared to have started after a heating unit malfunctioned, but an investigation is continuing.

Epperly said Billy Hanks was on his way to work when he noticed smoke rolling from the building. Hanks went to the fire station, a few hundred yards from the store, and set off a fire alarm.

Blacksburg Fire Department members and the Christiansburg Rescue Squad also assisted at the scene, Epperly said, and the Riner Fire Department manned the Christiansburg station for other calls.

by CNB