Shops affected by Grandview Fire seek new homes

By: Walker

7 Comments

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  Walker January 22, 2009 1:54 pm

  Fire site more than a building
  BY MARK D. SOMERSON

  Thankfully, there is a healthy divide between my professional and personal lives. Saturday, however, proved the exception.

  I was working the weekend shift and editing stories in the morning when reporter Jeb Phillips heard some chatter on the police scanners. A fire was spreading through a building that houses stores and businesses on Grandview Avenue.

  Before he headed out to the scene, Jeb mentioned the address. That’s when it struck me: I once worked there.

  I was in college in the mid-1980s when my friend Tom told me about For the Record, Columbus’ first compact disc-only store. His friend Charles founded the store, and Tom helped build the business that attracted a core of loyal customers eager to listen to music in a new format.

  I was a customer first. I bought a used Sony Discman and purchased CDs there when I could afford them.

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  surber17 January 23, 2009 10:41 am

  Let these businesses move to downtown (for cheap, to say Gay St. or something) and in exchange the Mayor lets some of his issues with Grandview Yard slide.
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  Walker January 23, 2009 12:35 pm

  Haha. Sounds like a nice compromise. I don’t know if the mayor personally owns any real estate downtown though that he can comp rent money on. ;)
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  theurbanspa January 24, 2009 7:01 pm

  in fact some of us ARE moving downtown… and i personally am very happy about it!  i am the esthetitian from 1400, the aveda concept salon, and i was very fortunate to have another location to call home so soon after the fire.  i am sad to see the devastation that all of these small businesses are going through… but we were lucky in the fact that we have two other salons in which to be placed.  if you are a client of the salon or just want to know more about us… please go to our website at 1400salon.com
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  Walker January 30, 2009 1:44 pm

  More from SNP:

  John Green was talking to a friend when he saw the first tendril of smoke rise from the roof of the building across the street.

  It was the beginning of what would become a Jan. 17 three-alarm fire that would destroy the building at 1390 Grandview Ave., home to 27 small businesses.

  READ MORE
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  Walker February 6, 2009 1:19 pm

  Businesses must be ready for the worst if they intend to bounce back quickly
  BY MARGARET HARDING

  Dressed for the elements in snow pants streaked with soot, Barb Reif sorted through the wreckage that was once her livelihood.

  Security-camera wire that cost $400 might be reusable. The smoky wooden bird feeders, though, are probably a total loss.

  “Finches are finicky as it is,” she explained while working to clear out what’s left of Accent on Nature, which she manages. It was one of the 23 businesses on Grandview Avenue affected by a Jan. 17 fire.

  The smoke has cleared, but the battle to recover — in a down economy — is just beginning for her gift and accessories shop.
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  DaveCrist March 4, 2009 10:00 am

  Charles Clutter and his brother Paul were friends of mine.  Haven’t seen them since the 80’s, but the store was great – the subject just came up while discussing the Psychedelic Furs with my offspring.  Charles (and Spanky, his side kick in the store) flew to Europe to see them.  I guess relative to 12 hour music filled workdays, they liked the Firs that much.  The store did a great job of promoting interesting music - the flip side of High Fidelity or Mole’s.  They did a good deal to wrestle righteous patronage away from the Sony’s and Disney’s of the day (the “classic” record companies still ruled).  They stopped due to the same mass CD warehouse national stores who are dying from mp3.  How bout we give them just speakers and internet and pay them with PBS funds to “help window tunes out” in whatever B&M stores replace the place?  I’m sure I loitered the bi-Jesus outta your work place - I loved the store. 
  THANKS for all tolerances!