News Summary

MONROE — Vendors won't know the extent of the devastation from the fire Thursday, June 12, at the Turtle Creek Flea Market until Monday, but that won't stop the gates from opening to shoppers this weekend.

The market's outdoor stalls will open at 9 a.m. today, said Greg Dove, president of Levin Associates, which owns the market located on Garver Road just off Interstate 75.

Instead of charging admission, the market will ask for donations to help vendors who have lost thousands of dollars of merchandise, and in some cases their very livelihoods, in the blaze, Dove said.

"We're trying to get the building up as quick as we can," Dove said. "It's brutal. We've got husbands and wives, this is their entire income for their kids."

Damage estimates to the 126,000-square-foot building and the contents of its approximately 500 booths range from $1 million to $3 million, according to fire officials.

"From last night to today that number's grown by a $1 million," Dove said.

Monroe fire Chief Mark Neu said the blaze is believed to be electrical, though the Division of the State Fire Marshal has not made a final ruling, said division spokesman Shane Cartmill. The fire appears to have started in or near a wall behind fish tanks at the J. Paul Aquatics booth, Cartmill said.

Two fire doors prevented flames from spreading and limited smoke damage to much of the building, but a third one malfunctioned, leaving an aisle with about 64 booths exposed.

"It's completely covered in soot — black soot and smoke," said Miley LeMay, a vendor who was able to survey the damage Thursday.

More than 50 firefighters from six departments battled the blaze, which broke out at 3 p.m.

The market is amid a renovation and rebranding campaign and recently was refurbished with a new roof, paint and air conditioners, Dove said.

"It's quite a blow to happen now, but we're going to pick up the pieces and drive froward," he said.

Some merchants say sales at the Monroe flea market make up their sole income

"Devastating."

That's how Carol Huf described the impact of the blaze that tore through the Turtle Creek Flea Market on Thursday, June 12.

"You put your heart and soul into it," she said. "It's not just junk we've got in there. We've got our money in it."

Huf of Springboro owns Carol's Unique Collectables, located down the aisle from the fire's origin.

Her store was a least partially protected by a fire door but she won't know the extent of the smoke damage until Monday, when officials hope they'll be able to let vendors back inside.

Others weren't so lucky.

Laurel Ewing's sign and charm bracelet booth, Sign Market and Say it with Charm, is in the aisle where a fire door malfunctioned, leaving her merchandise open to smoke and soot.

Ewing, who lives in Monroe, arrived at 7:30 a.m. Friday, among the first of the worried vendors who lined up outside the market's gates.

"My house payment's in there. My car payment's in there. My health insurance is in there. It's my sole income," she said. "You can't buy insurance when you're in the flea market. It's considered a temporary business location."

John Derksen of Dayton owns a booth called Country Carvers. Derksen said he recently moved his wares from Aisle 6, which was left relatively unscathed by the fire to Aisle 1, where there appeared to be more smoke and water damage.

"I just moved Wednesday and fire broke out Thursday," he said. "I got pots in there that are $300 or $400 apiece.

"I lost everything," he said, estimating his losses at about $7,000 to $8,000. "I'm on a fixed income. I've got to scrape money together just to get here on weekends."

Munketh Salem, a student at the Ohio College Of

Podiatric Medicine in Cleveland, drove to Monroe each weekend to earn enough money to support his wife and child.

He estimated the losses to his booth Rollin' Thunder, which sold car audio equipment and custom wheels, at $40,000.

"If I get nothing back I'm pretty much broke," he said. "I've got pretty much every penny I have tied up in that booth."

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2511 or dwells@coxohio.com.

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