Fire Destroys Downtown Mattoon Business (ADDL)

(THIS PHOTO FROM THE SCENE WAS TAKEN BY JIM FILIPIAK)

A structural engineer is on scene in Midtown Mattoon, attempting to determine what to do with the buildings damaged by a major fire Thursday night.

Shores Jewelry, a business in Mattoon for 70 years, was destroyed by the fire, although its exterior walls are still standing. Mattoon firefighters say the roof of the building has collapsed into the upper floors. The structural engineer is using a bucket on the fire department's ladder truck to survey the damage.

Firefighters were called at 5:40pm to the business, which had operated in its current location for over 30 years. Not only was the building destroyed, but all of the store's inventory was lost in the blaze.

Neighboring buildings along the north side of Broadway Avenue in Midtown Mattoon have also been compromised by the fire. One of those houses Luigi's Restaurant. At one point, electric service to the entire 1600 block of Broadway was shut off.

There were apartments above Shores Jewelry, but all of the occupants escaped unharmed. No injuries have been reported from the fire.

Firefighters from more than a half-dozen other companies around the Mattoon area assisted in battling the blaze. Water was brought to the scene from other locations in Mattoon so service could be maintained in the Midtown area. Firefighters were still working on hot spots at mid-morning.

Firefighters don't yet know the cause of the fire, and aren't saying where they believe the fire began. A representative of the State Fire Marshal's Office will assist in the investigation.

Shores Jewelry was established in Mattoon in 1948, and has been in its current location since 1985.