Randy Smoot, the owner of the barber shop called Fresh Lines, said the fire destroyed almost everything inside, and he was not able to replace it. He said because of the fire, he has not been able to re-open the barber shop.
“That’s not something I can do right now,” Smoot said.
RELATED: Springfield barber shop destroyed in large fire
He said the barber shop was supposed to be a place where the community could gather and to be a safe place for kids to hang out.
Springfield city documents report Columbus-based Westerville Square Inc. is investing up to $200,000 to rebuild the damaged area of the building on South Limestone Street. The report states the city received the permit application in September, and an inspection was complete in January.
Contractors and construction workers were spotted on scene throughout the last week.
Requests for comment from Westerville Square Inc. were not returned.
Police have not made any arrests in connection with the fire. Springfield Fire Marshall Brian Miller directed questions to Springfield Police Division officers, who did not respond to requests for comment for this story.
Police officials previously said a van was found in the rubble, but the driver ran from the scene. A smash and grab is a tactic used by thieves where a car is used to plow into a building and then the criminal enters the building to steal items.
Authorities said both stores went up in flames and were destroyed after the van smashed into the building.
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