Video: Popular Bookstore Closes after Fire Damages Merchandise

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STARKVILLE, Miss. (WCBI) — A popular store for Mississippi State University fans is closed on one of the busiest weekends of the year – Super Bull Dog Weekend.

It’s because of a fire early Wednesday morning that caused lots of damage, and destroyed most of their merchandise.

Workers at Campus Book Mart say they’ll be cleaning up day and night until they can reopen.

“Right now we’re getting all the smoke damaged stuff out,” said Manager Stan Raye. “We’ll have to get the smoke smell out, so we can start moving stuff back in.”

The fire was in the basement, but the smoke still came up through two floors, ruining the clothing, and most of the school supplies.

Raye has worked there for 20 years, and says what’s happened makes him sick.

“Just seeing all this – damaged merchandise, not being able to sell it,” Raye said. “It’s Super Bull Dog Weekend.”

The backpacks in the store may be new, but workers say they’ll still have to get rid of a lot of the merchandise because it smells like smoke.

“If it’s paper, cardboard or cloth, you just about can’t get the smell out of it,” Raye said.

Even though they still have a lot of cleaning up to do, workers are trying to be optimistic.

“We’ll bounce back,” said Vice President Barbara Foster. “This is a minor setback. We’re going to come back better and stronger.”

Workers say they’re not sure when they’ll reopen, but hopefully sometime in the next couple of weeks.

Insurance will cover the cost of the damage and inventory.

Categories: Local News

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