Overnight Fire Destroys 4 Businesses In Atwater
ATWATER, Minn. (WCCO) -- A small town in western Minnesota is dealing with the loss of four small businesses.
An early morning fire destroyed the building along Atlantic Avenue in Atwater. The small town is just about 12 miles outside of Willmar.
"Hasn't quite sunk in yet that it's gone," said Andy Peterson
About 1 a.m. Monday morning, Peterson got a call from the sheriff, letting him know the hardware store that he and his wife have owned for 11 years was being taken over by fire.
"I didn't know what was going on and they said 'Your store is on fire.' And we looked out the window and we could see it from here," said Peterson.
Fire departments from across the area battled the fire much of the night. They believe the fire started in the Phat Pheasant Pasta & Brew restaurant and quickly spread to Peterson Hardware, Stickerboy Signs & Designs and Holm Brothers Plumbing and Heating. The police chief says each is a total loss.
By the time most people in the town of about 1,000 woke up, all that was left were the outlines of the businesses that were still smoking.
"In small communities like this, it's hard to keep businesses going and it's really difficult to lose this many businesses in one evening," said Atwater Police Chief Reed Schmidt.
NewsRadio 830 WCCO's Bruce Hagevik Reports
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Jerry Vlaminck sold the Phat Pheasant building to a friend six months ago and said business had been good. It was a place for food and drinks as well as wedding receptions.
"I was totally shocked cause Michael the owner of it, who runs the Phat Pheasant now, he was very excited about owning this and being a part of the community.
Shocked is how many of the people passing by were feeling.
As for Peterson, it's unlikely he will rebuild the hardware store he grew up with.
"A lot of good customers in town saying it's too bad, they're going to miss it. We're going to miss it too," he said.
