ST. MATTHEWS, Ky. (WDRB) -- A roof collapse at a St. Matthews strip mall forced the city to shut down several businesses and restaurants Friday afternoon.
Pretty Paws, Del Frisco's, Nail Therapy Studio, Maui Whitening Louisville, Havanna Rumba, Warm Reflexology, Half-Peach Bakery, Charim Korean Restaurant and Vacation Experts are now all closed indefinitely because of what's above them.
"Part of the roof ended up collapsing," St. Matthews Mayor Rick Tonini said. "It's not a gaping hole that's exposed to the elements, but it is a collapse."
Early Friday afternoon, officials with Louisville and St. Matthews shut down business at the Gallerias of St. Matthews. Bright orange signs warn that the building is now a "dangerous structure."
Inspectors posted signs saying "Warning Dangerous Structure" on doors to businesses in the building on Oechsli Road after a roof collapse.
Tonini said they couldn't take chances.
"We sure don't want someone coming here for dinner and having a tragedy, so better to be safe than sorry," he said.
The WDRB Sky Cam gives the best view of the damage: a gaping hole in the roof of a Korean restaurant. However, officials think the damage could be more extensive, and trusses could be near collapse in other parts of the building too.
Check out the damage to the roof @dsrinehart just captured with @WDRBNews Skycam. pic.twitter.com/vk33miNG77
— Chad K. Mills (@ChadKMills) July 27, 2019
"Fire marshals came and told us the building is not secure, and we were told to vacate the premises," said Paul Sandman, the owner of Nail Therapy Studio.
Sandman and his wife built their exquisite nail salon at the shopping center not even a year ago.
"Everything was going great," he said. "And suddenly, we're out of business until further notice."
Now, like others there, he and his wife have so many questions: Will they ever reopen there? Will they have to lay-off employees? Will insurance cover the halt of business?
"The rugs been pulled out from underneath our feet, kind of suddenly, and we don't know where it's going to go," he said.
A fence is up around the building that is home to Havana Rumba, Del Frisco's, Half Peace Cafe and Charim Korean restaurant, after a roof collapse.
Multiple tenants say they've yet to hear anything from their landlord. WDRB News hasn't been able to reach him yet either.
Some of the tenants said they are not happy with the landlord. Havana Rumba and Maui Teeth Whitening were already planning to leave the shopping center as a result.
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