BANGOR, Maine — Downtown Bangor business Salty Brick Market was deemed a total loss after a fire in its building on 35 Main St. earlier this month.
"At that point, whatever I could do to help save anything, that was my main focus," James Gallagher, the owner of Salty Brick Market, said.
The fire happened in the kitchen of one of the apartments above his business. Gallagher says water from the building's fire suppression sprinkler system damaged his market, not the fire itself.
"Over half of our store, the ceiling has had to be removed from water damage," Gallagher said.
Gallagher says the kitchen, bathroom and front of the store are all damaged and they are still using dehumidifiers to remove access moisture and prevent mold.
“When the code enforcement came through and had a conversation with me and said you are pretty much starting over from here,” Gallagher said.
Louie Morrison, one of the owners of the building, says multiple other apartments were also damaged when the sprinklers turned on.
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Though it didn't take long for people to step up and help, like John Dobbs, owner of Paddy Murphy's right across the street from Salty Brick Market.
"I can't imagine what that must've been like," Dobbs said.
Dobbs says he immediately offered his support when he heard about the fire.
"If there is an opportunity to be of help, I think you should always jump at it," Dobbs said.
He said the support from the community is helping him get through this rough time.
"Just as a community as a whole, people see me walking the street, they come up to me, they'll come give me hug say, 'We're in this together.' That means the world to me," Gallagher said.
Morrison said 15 tenants have been re-housed and six have been able to move back in because their units were not damaged. The fire is still under investigation.
You can support the business impacted by fire here. Gallagher said the money he raises will go back to the community once he successfully reopens his business.