MOUNT VERNON — A nearly 50-year-old Quonset hut on West Gambier Street collapsed sometime Monday night or Tuesday morning, apparently from the weight of snow on the roof. Located near the end of West Gambier just before Johnny’s Auto Parts, the hut is 200 feet long and 40 feet wide.
Rick Hess moved his 2 plus 1 tire store into the building on Jan. 1. In addition to a supply of tires, he has several pieces of machinery in the hut, including a tire changer and an air compressor. Hess said an I-beam from the roof is now sitting across the compressor. As of Tuesday morning, he has not been able to determine the damage to the unit.
The front corner of the hut is still standing, because an office built into that corner is strong enough to keep the roof from falling. Hess said that Johnny’s Auto Parts has cars and campers stored in the rear of the hut. Damage has not been determined.
The building is owned by Ray Grandstaff. Grandstaff owns other buildings; Hess said he is hopeful one of those can be found to house his business.
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