Keremeos’ biggest downtown business was back to normal on Wednesday July 16, following Monday’s devastating fire.
Valu Plus Foods suffered smoke damage as a result of the Keremeos Hotel fire on July 14. The store was closed the day of the fire as well as on Tuesday as staff and Interior Health combed through the store to assess the damage.
“Most of the damage occurred upstairs” said Manager Shannon Forner, who said the last couple of days had been exhausting.
“The whole store was covered in smoke during the fire. We’ve been through everything with Interior Health. I’ve got a huge dumpster out back - anything that might be suspect as a result of the smoke has been thrown out.”
The store appeared busy, as local shoppers and visitors got caught up on their grocery shopping.
Right next door, the pile of rubble that remains of the 108 year old Keremeos Hotel sat, a security fence hastily erected along the street side of the property. The odour of smoke is strong in the area.
On the other side of Seventh Street, and RCMP cruiser sat idling at the curb. The RCMP announced Tuesday that an investigation into the fire was underway.