Columbia businesses damaged after downtown water main break

After four water main breaks in central Columbia Thursday evening, many businesses are working to clean up the mess inside their stores.

“We were here bright and early, took the inventory trying to figure out what was wet and what was damaged beyond repair,” said Arro Froese, Co-Owner of Gotcha on Walnut Street.

Froese said the basement was hit the worst with water. Right now, he’s expecting at least $15,000 in damaged merchandise.

“Some of that stuff was irreplaceable.”

Salon Nefisa, also located on Walnut Street, was closed for business Friday. Salon Manager Ellen Craine said they plan to be back open Saturday. She said they’re still trying to calculate a damage dollar amount.

“The city has a mechanism in place for things like this when they do occur so people have a department they can go to speak to about the incident,” said Connie Kacprowicz, Columbia Water and Light spokesperson. “Then they work with the insurance companies and work all the payments out.”‘

Froese said he contacted Columbia’s Risk Management Department Friday after learning his insurance wouldn’t cover the damage costs. He said it’s because the water and flooding came from outside of the store rather than inside.

“Hopefully they’ll figure something out to help cover some of our loss, but we’ll do the best we can,” he said. “It’s kind of a painful hit if we have to absorb it all on our own.”

The area along the 800 block of Walnut is under a boil advisory until Saturday morning.