SUFFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — The interior of a downtown Suffolk building collapsed Sunday night.
Suffolk Fire & Rescue released images that show the damage to the 104-year-old building, formerly known as the ‘Horseshoe Cafe,’ in the 300 block of East Washington Street.
Fire crews were called to the scene just after 10 p.m. Sunday and arrived to find part of a three-story building had collapsed. There was extensive damage to the interior of the building and debris on the front sidewalk and behind the structure, as images show.
City officials said demolition on the building was already underway when a center support gave way, causing the entire structure to collapse.
“And that’s what blew out the material we say. Searches were complete, all clear,” Suffolk Fire Department Chief Michael Barakey said. “Utilities were secured already to the business. So at that point, fire rescue had nothing more to do other than to turn it over to the housing department for them to work with the owner to bring it down.”
Officials confirmed the building that collapsed was not occupied. Due to the extent of the damage, the adjacent apartments were deemed unsafe and three occupants are now displaced. The Red Cross is assisting them.
No injuries were reported.
“No, no, nobody was injured,” Barakey said. “It was more of a nuisance right now because a main thoroughfare in downtown that was shut down.”
10 On Your Side has reached out to the developer of East Washington Street to learn more about future plans for the site.
Continue to check WAVY.com for updates.
