KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Several Knoxville businesses remain closed after a fire last week damaged a building on North Cedar Bluff Road, leaving owners without a storefront, supplies or income for the foreseeable future.
The fire broke out Thursday night at a laundromat located in a building that also houses several other local businesses. Four days later, the smell of smoke still lingers in the air. It is a sign, owners say, of how extensive the damage was.
“It’s very disheartening,” said Allan Rodriguez, who owns Pastelito's Cuban Bakery with his parents. “We have built this from the ground up. Being possibly out five to six months is a huge struggle.”
The family’s bakery, which has been open in this storefront for two years, is now closed. While the Rodriguez family still has catering e