Lake St. fire damages apartment building, businesses

Updated: 1:35 p.m. | Posted: 10:21 a.m.

A fire late Sunday night damaged a multi-story building that housed several businesses and apartments in a commercial section of south Minneapolis. It took firefighters until Monday morning to knock down the blaze.

The three-alarm fire in the 700 block of Lake Street did not result in any injuries, but the three-story brick building appears gutted. The building was the former home of Roberts Shoe Store, a local family-run institution that closed in 2014.

Minneapolis firefighters tried to battle the flames from the inside. At one point they were driven back from the basement by heavy smoke and high heat. The building's age and the hot weather also made fighting the fire difficult.

Business owners and residents rushed to the scene overnight and some remained there the next morning.

In addition to apartments, residents said the businesses included a restaurant, clothing store and hair salon.

Ali Mansour has run a cellphone repair business on the first floor for four years.

"We just received a phone call there is fire and we just came to see," Mansour said. "It is a tragedy, your business, other people have businesses, it is sad."

Minneapolis Fire Department Assistant Chief Bryan Tyner said the building was inspected in March and was up to code.

Fire crews remained at the scene Monday to take care of hot spots. The cause is under investigation, the Minneapolis Fire Department said.