Lost a good one

[nofishfisherman]

Big loss for St. Paul overnight.  Stasny's Meat Market on Western Ave in St. Paul burned down late last night/ early this morning.  Saddest part is one employee was in the store and didn't make it out.

The market was less than a mile from home so I'd swing through when looking for brats or to get my fix of meat sticks.  It was one of those places that has a LONG history and was a landmark for the neighborhood and the city.  When inside you felt like you stepped back into 1905's small town Americana. 

Thoughts and prayers from the man who lost his life, to the owners who lost their livelihood, and to the residents who lost their homes in the apartments above the store.  Sad deal all the way around. 

[SkunkedAgain]

Losing any small market is always sad. I'd never visited but it sounded like my kind of place.

[delcecchi]

Didn't know it existed.  Was the guy staying in the basement an employee?

[nofishfisherman]

From what I can tell the guy in the basement was an employee and it sounds like he may have been staying there.  The articles I've read aren't 100% clear on whether he lives in the basement or was there for some other reason. 

I'm sure a lot of people outside the neighborhood didn't know about the place.  Its small, unassuming, and easy to drive right by if you didn't know better but it was a great place. 

[delcecchi]

He was reportedly staying there for a short time, at least.  

I grew up not too far from there, but far enough west we didn't get that far....    And we didn't buy much meat, what with venison, moose, and home butchered beef and pork from my uncle's farm.  Sounds good though.