RFP Staff
♦ Historic landmark building “Okie Dokey”, a general store on the 100 block of East Innes Street, was gutted by an afternoon blaze originally called in as a 2 alarm fire around 3 p.m. before quickly graduating to a 3 alarm fire. By 4:30 the fire was declared under control.
At one point billowing smoke reached high over Downtown Salisbury and drifted through the streets. Okie Dokey appears to be a total loss. Broken window glass shards litter the pavement and water damage is said to be extensive. The odor of smoke is everywhere. Okey Dokey’s neighbors on either side “Simply Good”, a popular health food store, and the “Rent-A-Center” went unscathed.
The fire raced through the basement to the 2nd floor, feeding on store goods and the wooden interior.
The Okie Dokey general store followed in the footsteps of Salisbury’s venerable O.O. Rufty’s a landmark store that first opened back in 1921. Okey Dokey was said to be struggling like many downtown businesses since last year and back in 2013 the old general store was the focus a sign ordinance violation with the city of Salisbury.
No word yet on how the fire started. No injuries were reported.
Neighbors were cleared from the adjoining buildings as a precaution while East Innes Street is clogged with fire trucks, police cars, and county emergency vehicles. Spectators packed both sides of East Innes.
Avoid East Innes in the vicinity of the Square (Main and East Innes). Bystanders are being kept back from the scene.
**Will be updating with more photographs and information as they are arrive.**
