Local business owners glad demolition of Plush Lounge building is underway
COLUMBIA, MO (KMIZ)
Demolition started Wednesday on the old Plush Lounge building in Columbia.
John Simon, of the city’s Building and Site Development, told ABC 17 that he is “confident that only the burned structure will need to be removed.” The surrounding buildings near the intersection of Business Loop 70 and Range Line Street include an apartment complex and and businesses.
The building caught fire in March. The fire department is still investigating what caused the fire. The rubble that was left behind was beginning to become an eyesore for surrounding businesses.
On March 22, Dimetrious Woods’ dad received a call at 3 a.m. that Plush Lounge was on fire. Woods' business, Woods Auto Spa sat just a few yards away.
"He ran down here and man I can’t tell you it was kind of a scary sight,” Woods said. “After it was all said and done, our power was out for about six hours throughout that day. But, we fired up the backup generator, so we were able to stay open.”
Signs By Woody owner Kent Sapp said he’s seen people coming in and out of the building lighting fires to stay warm before the property ultimately burned down.
Last May Plush Lounge announced it was closing indefinitely after a shooting in the parking lot left one dead and one injured. Incidents like these were not uncommon in the area.
In June 2021, police arrested Damar Harris for allegedly shooting a gun into a bush from a parked vehicle while in the parking lot. In September 2021, police responded to the Plush Lounge parking lot after a dozen shots were fired. Then in November, one woman was shot in the area and police found property damage. In June 2022, one woman suffered non-life-threatening injuries after she was shot.
Sapp said that one of his trailers was struck with a stray bullet from one of those incidents.
“You had multiple shootings, the cops were over all the freaking time,” Sapp said.
Sapp claims that some of the activity happening around Plush Lounge was giving the rest of the businesses in the area a bad reputation. Woods said that the building finally getting torn down will be good for the surrounding businesses.
“I mean, who wants to go shop when their life is being threatened,” Woods said. “Customer service is one of our number-one priorities here at Woods Auto Spa. So, I also want to make sure our customers feel safe.”
