Three local businesses are bouncing back from the city’s most serious fire in two decades.
A Jan. 24 blaze at Carpet Mania — which filled the sky over Columbus with dark smoke visible for miles — started in the company’s warehouse. It spread to the Deathproof CrossFit fitness center, located in the same complex at 1428 10th St.
Damage from the fire, which about 50 firefighters battled, forced both businesses to relocate.
Due to the extensive devastation, cause of the fire — which left $2 million in damages — was ruled as undetermined by the Columbus Fire Department.
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A third business, Advantage One Imaging Center, was not damaged as severely.
Carpet Mania operated after the fire from the home of owner Clinton Mann.
“We never stopped and we made sure we took care of our accounts,” Mann said.
He recently moved Carpet Mania operations to a temporary site at 2258 Cottage Ave., about 13 blocks north of where the fire broke out, Mann said.
Mann is also working on a new location to permanently house his 22-year-old business.
One possibility is going back to 1428 10th St., where Carpet Mania operated from 1999 until fire destroyed the building.
The Carpet Mania sign is still visible at the corner of 10th and Michigan Street, with caution tape wrapped around it. A fenced-off area surrounds where the store once stood.
Mann estimated that the fire resulted in a loss of several million dollars, describing it as devastating.
“Right now, we’re focusing on getting the new store built,” Mann said. “We’re working through estimates, building specs and things like that.”
Mann said he had always planned on reopening his business.
“We’ll be better than ever once we get everything in line,” Mann said. “Life goes on and we’re going to move on and go in the right direction.”
Health club
Deathproof CrossFit, which had been located on 10th Street for about three years, has also found a new home. It plans to open at 3345 Commerce Drive in an 8,000-square-foot space by the middle of this month, owner Jase Robinson said.
The location, one of eight or nine considered in the past six months, is in an industrial area between U.S. 31 and Indianapolis Road on the north side of Columbus.
“It became a waiting game in looking for a location,” Robinson said.
Until he could land a spot to reopen the business, Robinson created a temporary workout area in the front yard of his Columbus home — a rubber mat on top of a concrete surface.
Robinson said he never doubted that his business would reopen, describing it as his life’s work.
“We were not ready to throw that away,” Robinson said. “We’ve used the time to improve and come back better than ever.”
Robinson’s clients shared the owner’s resolve.
“People got behind us and supported us and it’s been a humbling experience. The amount of support we’ve had is unbelievable,” he said.
Imaging center
Advantage One Imaging Center, a neighboring business that was displaced briefly, has remained operational, owner Tim Cooney said.
The graphics company was able to borrow space in a room on 7th and Washington streets, where it temporarily operated, he said.
“I felt homeless for quite a while,” Cooney said. “We had quite a bit of business in the pipeline when the fire happened.”
Eventually, Advantage One Imaging was able to relocate into a warehouse located behind its current location, which has been renovated with new carpet, lights and drywall.
The company moved back into its original spot, its home of nine years, on June 1.
Cooney said the amount of support his 39-year business received from clients after the fire was humbling.
“I had a lot of customers asking me how they could help,” Cooney said.
That was a contributing factor in moving forward, he said.
“At the end of the day, when it happened, it was just stuff,” Cooney said. “Time heals wounds like this.”
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Three local businesses were impacted by a Jan. 24 fire in Columbus. Here’s an update on each.
- Advantage One Imaging Center has moved back into its existing space at 1428 10th St., Suite A, after new drywall, lighting and carpet were installed.
- Carpet Mania has a temporary location open at 2258 Cottage Ave. It is still working with contractors on plans to build a new store, owner Clinton Mann said. Carpet Mania has continued to operate since the fire.
- Deathproof CrossFit plans to open at 3345 Commerce Drive in a new 8,000-square-foot space by the middle of this month.
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