COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KRHD) — The Harvey Washbanger has served College Station for more than 20 years, but now, that business is gone due to an unexpected structure fire.
- The College Station Fire Department received a call about a structure fire at the Harvey Washbangers on Texas Avenue at 5:30 a.m. on Monday.
- Crews attacked the flames from the outside and the fire took out the walls and the roof.
- The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
BROADCAST TRANSCRIPT:
15ABC asked Harvey Washbangers Laundromat owner, Michael Lair, what’s going through his mind after seeing his business burn down.
“I mean, it's all kind of surreal. I feel like I have an emotional breaker that is flipped, and it'll all settle in later, but right now, we're just kind of watching and trying to figure this out one step at a time.”
A fire broke out on early monday morning at the Harvey Washbangers Laundromat on Texas Avenue.
“The fire department got a call about 5:30 this morning for a structure fire at Harvey Washbangers,” Fire Captain, Stuart Marrs said.
“When crews showed up, there was lots of flames, flames through the roof, had a roof collapse, some multiple walls collapse."
Leaving neighbors shocked and heartbroken.
“It's wild to think about. There's been like 25 years of a track record of just pouring our heart and souls into this to make it work,” Lair said.
“I was like, no! You know? Like, how can you not react to something like that?,” College Station resident Gael Salazar said.
Michael Lair, a co-owner of Harvey Washbangers Laundromat, tells 15ABC that his main worry is not the future of his business but the employees who helped make it function.
“There's an awful lot of people here that depend on us for their livelihood, and i'm really concerned about that."
“If there's anybody that is looking to hire, I’ve got some great people, so, please reach out to us because we'd love to find good homes for some amazing staff members,” he said.
Lair told 15ABC that although he doesn't know the next steps, he knows his family and faith will get him through this difficult time.
“We love this community. It has been a wonderful, special place to be. we have a ton of memories tied up, so good lord willing, we'll see what happens."
