MONROE - Fire and smoke damage to the Phillips Furniture and Appliance building Oct. 9 in Monroe led owner Ralph Phillips to do some extensive renovations to his business.
Phillips is hoping to reopen the store "sometime near the end of December or early January, we hope," he said Tuesday.
The entire building is being remodeled at this time, and it will be several weeks yet before the store can reopen, but Phillips said the exact date of the reopening cannot be determined specifically.
"The whole building pretty much needed to be gutted," he said.
The building needed repairs to its roof and one wall, and damages to the ceiling, interior walls and carpet required those to be removed.
The fire that broke out in the early-morning hours Oct. 9 is believed to have been deliberately started with mattresses near the store being ignited. Seven area fire departments responded to the call. Monroe Police Chief Fred Kelley said the investigation is continuing.
In a news release to The Times, Phillips expressed his appreciation to those people who have offered their support.
"(We) thank the people of Monroe and surrounding communities for their wonderful support after the fire - for the offers of help, the people who brought us food, offered us use of their equipment, offered manpower for clean up and all the well wishers. We are indeed fortunate to live in a community with so many caring people. Also, a huge thanks to the fire departments and all the firemen, whose fast action saved our building."
Phillips said the insurance company hired the general contractor, whose work he is happy with.
Phillips doesn't know how many subcontractors have been working to get the job done, but said work is "progressing nicely."
An employee with the engineering company fell from scaffolding Nov. 20 but was not seriously injured.
"He was back at work the next day," Phillips said.
With the newly-remodled building, Phillips intends to add several "exciting new furniture lines" to the show room, along with the latest innovations from General Electric.
"We're going to update, bring in different items," he said.
Although he is looking at several new lines, Phillips would not reveal any names of the companies.
"It's too early; nothing's been signed yet," he said.
During the remodeling period, Phillips has set up temporary office hours, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays, in a trailer on site at 905 30th Street.
Phillips is asking people to call Rick at Monroe Mechanical at 329-4547 or Appliance Pros at 325-2300 for appliance service.
Phillips is hoping to reopen the store "sometime near the end of December or early January, we hope," he said Tuesday.
The entire building is being remodeled at this time, and it will be several weeks yet before the store can reopen, but Phillips said the exact date of the reopening cannot be determined specifically.
"The whole building pretty much needed to be gutted," he said.
The building needed repairs to its roof and one wall, and damages to the ceiling, interior walls and carpet required those to be removed.
The fire that broke out in the early-morning hours Oct. 9 is believed to have been deliberately started with mattresses near the store being ignited. Seven area fire departments responded to the call. Monroe Police Chief Fred Kelley said the investigation is continuing.
In a news release to The Times, Phillips expressed his appreciation to those people who have offered their support.
"(We) thank the people of Monroe and surrounding communities for their wonderful support after the fire - for the offers of help, the people who brought us food, offered us use of their equipment, offered manpower for clean up and all the well wishers. We are indeed fortunate to live in a community with so many caring people. Also, a huge thanks to the fire departments and all the firemen, whose fast action saved our building."
Phillips said the insurance company hired the general contractor, whose work he is happy with.
Phillips doesn't know how many subcontractors have been working to get the job done, but said work is "progressing nicely."
An employee with the engineering company fell from scaffolding Nov. 20 but was not seriously injured.
"He was back at work the next day," Phillips said.
With the newly-remodled building, Phillips intends to add several "exciting new furniture lines" to the show room, along with the latest innovations from General Electric.
"We're going to update, bring in different items," he said.
Although he is looking at several new lines, Phillips would not reveal any names of the companies.
"It's too early; nothing's been signed yet," he said.
During the remodeling period, Phillips has set up temporary office hours, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays, in a trailer on site at 905 30th Street.
Phillips is asking people to call Rick at Monroe Mechanical at 329-4547 or Appliance Pros at 325-2300 for appliance service.