SOUTH HAVEN, Mich. — A local convenience store owner is counting her blessings after a fire caused significant damage to a storage room at her business over the weekend, but spared the newly renovated areas.
North Side Memories, located on Dyckman Avenue near the popular North Beach, has served the South Haven community for four decades. The store recently closed for winter renovations and had just reopened on Friday, adding new flooring, paint, and shelving. Owner Jamie Cowell was eager to welcome back customers, but a fire on Saturday night threatened to derail her plans.
Around 8:30 p.m. Saturday, as employees were preparing to close for the night, smoke was seen coming from the storage room. Cowell believes the fire started in an old freezer. The news sent her into a panic, as she received the call alerting her to the fire.
Firefighters quickly arrived on the scene to find the business filled with smoke. However, thanks to their swift actions, the fire was confined to the storage room and was prevented from spreading to the main store or neighboring businesses, including an unoccupied upstairs apartment.
“It felt like forever, but it was very quick,” Cowell recalled. “That adrenaline just gets going and time doesn’t exist.”
The firefighters’ quick response was praised by Cowell, who expressed her gratitude for their efforts in containing the fire before it caused further damage. “It was amazing. They did amazing work. We’re so grateful for them,” she said.
Thanks to the fire department’s efforts and the store’s safety precautions, including a closed door between the storage room and the rest of the building, the fire caused no injuries and left the new renovations untouched. However, the storage room sustained considerable fire and water damage, and several items, including coolers, office supplies, and containers, were destroyed.
While Cowell is waiting on insurance to determine the cost of repairs, she remains optimistic. “Not great timing,” she said, referring to the fire occurring just after the store’s reopening. “But we do what we can, push forward. It could have been worse. We were very, very lucky.”
Cowell hopes to reopen the store’s deli section in about a week and is thankful that, despite the setback, her business was able to resume operations. The community’s support has been invaluable as she works through the recovery process.
North Side Memories, which has been a staple in South Haven for many years, looks forward to welcoming customers back in the coming days as the cleanup continues.
