Site search
sponsored by
News
Sports
ENLARGE
The owners of the Cedar Ridge Country Store have put up a sign on the fencing surrounding the gutted building to thank people for their support.
Under the shade of a cedar tree, Cedar Ridge Country Store owners Surjit Singh and Harjit Kaur sit with their son, Raj Singh, next to a child's plastic swing set.
The heat of the blaze that gutted the family's grocery store on Highway 174 on July 12 had melted the swing into a Dali-esque drip.
Now the long, onerous process of rebuilding begins.
Blackened cases of canned goods still litter the grounds and the arson-ravaged shell stands, but Raj Singh promised the store will be rebuilt as soon as possible.
“We've got a demolition permit already,” he said.
After two months of demolition, the family will have the county review its building plans. Then, rebuilding will start.
“We're probably looking at February or March for the reopening, if the weather's OK,” Raj Singh said. “Otherwise, add another month to that.”
The building has been declared a total loss, he said. Unfortunately, the family's insurance will not cover the improvements they had made since they purchased the store.
Support from Cedar Ridge residents is helping to bridge the gap.
Wednesday afternoon, Ophir Hill Fire Battalion Chief Robb Rothenberger and Capt. Clint Carson brought the family a condolence card that had been dropped off at the fire station. They also brought a check for $1,615, raised in a raffle during the fire department's annual spaghetti feed.
The store burned down at about 4 a.m. July 12. Alfredo Rafael Torres, a 21-year-old transient, is accused of starting the fire. He has pleaded not guilty to charges of arson of an inhabited structure, assault with a deadly weapon, attempted vehicle theft, vandalism and being under the influence of methamphetamine.
He is being held in county jail in lieu of $80,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in court at 1 p.m. July 30 for a felony conference.
While the investigation is done, it is unclear when the report will be released, Carson said.
The family, which lives in Antelope, had bought the store from a family friend just four months ago, Raj Singh said. They had been looking for a business opportunity after selling several gasoline stations they owned in Indiana.
“I was in Indiana for five years, running the gas stations for them,” he said. “In October 2007, they moved to Indiana, but they had never seen winter before. They lasted only three months before they decided to go back to California ... We didn't even get done unpacking.”
After they returned, Raj Singh said, they had a hard time finding employment.
Running a retail store “is the only thing they know how to do,” he said.
The heat of the blaze that gutted the family's grocery store on Highway 174 on July 12 had melted the swing into a Dali-esque drip.
Now the long, onerous process of rebuilding begins.
Blackened cases of canned goods still litter the grounds and the arson-ravaged shell stands, but Raj Singh promised the store will be rebuilt as soon as possible.
“We've got a demolition permit already,” he said.
After two months of demolition, the family will have the county review its building plans. Then, rebuilding will start.
“We're probably looking at February or March for the reopening, if the weather's OK,” Raj Singh said. “Otherwise, add another month to that.”
The building has been declared a total loss, he said. Unfortunately, the family's insurance will not cover the improvements they had made since they purchased the store.
Support from Cedar Ridge residents is helping to bridge the gap.
Wednesday afternoon, Ophir Hill Fire Battalion Chief Robb Rothenberger and Capt. Clint Carson brought the family a condolence card that had been dropped off at the fire station. They also brought a check for $1,615, raised in a raffle during the fire department's annual spaghetti feed.
The store burned down at about 4 a.m. July 12. Alfredo Rafael Torres, a 21-year-old transient, is accused of starting the fire. He has pleaded not guilty to charges of arson of an inhabited structure, assault with a deadly weapon, attempted vehicle theft, vandalism and being under the influence of methamphetamine.
He is being held in county jail in lieu of $80,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in court at 1 p.m. July 30 for a felony conference.
While the investigation is done, it is unclear when the report will be released, Carson said.
The family, which lives in Antelope, had bought the store from a family friend just four months ago, Raj Singh said. They had been looking for a business opportunity after selling several gasoline stations they owned in Indiana.
“I was in Indiana for five years, running the gas stations for them,” he said. “In October 2007, they moved to Indiana, but they had never seen winter before. They lasted only three months before they decided to go back to California ... We didn't even get done unpacking.”
After they returned, Raj Singh said, they had a hard time finding employment.
Running a retail store “is the only thing they know how to do,” he said.
To contact Staff Writer Liz Kellar, e-mail lkellar@theunion.com or call 477-4230.
