FALCONER – Residents expressed sadness and regret on Wednesday as an excavator worked to demolish the Falconer Vacuum Shop at 15 W. Main St. just days after a fire tore through the building.
On Monday, Village Mayor Jim Rensel said the building’s owner, Brian Nelson, had worked in the building since he was 16-years-old.
Resident Deborah Miller stared at the building reflectively as crews began tearing down the walls.
Miller said the Vac Shop was more than a repair shop.
“It’s like part of our history is gone,” said Miller.
Residents braved below-freezing temperatures as more than 10 fire departments responded to emergency calls for mutual aid on Sunday.
Chautauqua County Fire Investigators said Tuesday that there was too much damage to definitively rule on what caused the fire, and that there was a great potential for collapse.
Investigators did note that nothing seemed suspicious.
Deborah Miller echoed the sentiments of many in the community.
“My son and I were down here the day of the fire,” Miller said. “It’s really sad.”
“I hope you come back, rebuild, and we’ll be there to support you all the way,” Miller added.
In addition to the loss of multiple apartments and Nelson’s business, Roots Salon was destroyed.
The salon’s previous location, less than a block away, was destroyed by fire last year. Investigators deemed that fire an arson.
As of now, the future of Falconer’s Business District remains unclear.
WNYNewsNow’s Ryan Hedrick contributed to this report.
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What concerns me is this same Deborah Miller that is shown above watching the tear down of a building that previously caught fire was also a “victim” of a fire at her home in canton,ohio roughly 6 years ago then later arrested in 2016 for intentionally setting her home on fire here in jamestown,ny.. I don’t know but i will say this.. I’d be a nervous wreck to have her living in my apartment complex…