From the descriptions I’m hearing, not only did a fireman get injured, the florist and the building on either side of it, including the hardware store that Doug frequents, are destroyed. I suspected the smoke damage went to the stores connected beyond that. Butler & Bailey probably lost all the food to smoke, but I think they’ll come back stronger. We need Butler & Bailey. We are located halfway between the Pellissippi Kroger and the campus Kroger. If Doug runs to Kroger for just one or two things, he is gone for an hour. Food **itty is closer, but if Doug runs there for one or two things, he is gone an hour and a half. Half an hour to get frustrated at Food **itty and an hour to go to Kroger. It is easier and calmer to make the trip to and from Butler & Bailey in 15 minutes. The people in there are nice and genuinely happy. Thanks to Evan’s antics with the mini-cart, they know us by name. I don’t care if Mr. Bailey changes the store’s name to Phoenix. I just want this grocery store to stick around.
Mr. Bailey retired a several weeks ago. I don’t know the circumstances but gather it was a health issue.
I should add that he always made shopping there personal and it was a pleasure to strike up a conversation with Mr. Bailey.