A long time business on the city’s south side saw the front of it’s Simpson Street building collapse.
Fire officials were called to Maier Hardware and District Chief John Kaplanis tells us they think it was the weight of a sign that brought bricks and glass crashing down.
“We’re not sure what weight constraints were associated with that but we believe the weight of the sign alone was able to pull that weakened facade down.”
Meanwhile, employee Taylor Long tells us he didn’t expect this to happen during his shift.
“We heard a big crash, we figured a vehicle had hit the front of the building. We rushed to the window and saw the dust and debris.”
Part of Simpson Street was closed during clean up and the store will remain closed until Insurance brokers can survey the damage.
Two vehicles that were driving by at the time of the collapse ended up in a fender bender as they were looking at the bricks falling to the ground.
The call came in to fire officials just after 12:30. No one was hurt. (Photo and video by Sheri Leviski-Kotyk)
