ORANGE PARK, Fla. – The Hagan Ace Hardware store in Orange Park that was destroyed in a fire last week will be rebuilt, a spokesperson told News4JAX on Tuesday.
Tera Lageman, Hagan Ace Hardware’s spokesperson, said she will share more details about the rebuild once a plan is finalized.
The Hagan Ace Hardware on Blanding Boulevard went up in flames around 6:30 p.m. on Friday. Crews immediately responded to the scene, working to extinguish the massive flames that produced heavy smoke that could be seen miles away.
The fire, which closed off Blanding Blvd. for hours, left 33 employees without the workplace they called home.
“They aren’t just employees, they are family. We take care of our family. None of them are losing any pay,” Lageman said.
Lageman told News4JAX they are doing everything they can to help their employees and relocate them to other Ace stores around Northeast Florida.
“This is the home base for a lot of our employees. So very emotional for them. This is their home,” Lageman said.
Sean Davis said he rides past the store regularly on his way to work from Middleburg.
“I was sad because Ace is going to lose business. Sad to see something like this burn down. A good business. Been here since I was a child,” Davis said.
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The cause of the fire is still under investigation.