JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The owners of the Southside furniture store that burned Monday night were sifting through debris on Tuesday.
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Even after watching video of flames shooting from the Palm Casual Patio Furniture location on Beach Boulevard and St.Johns Bluff Road, employee Charles Joy couldn't believe the damage.
He told Action News Jax, "It's worse."
Joy said he has worked at the shop for nearly 20 years – according to co-owner Michael Halusek, they've been open for 40 years.
"The building is pretty much totally destroyed in my opinion," described Halusek.
What started the fire is under investigation by the State Fire Marshal.
Firefighters on the scene believed it started at the back of the building.
Halusek said they regularly have homeless hanging out in the area.
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He explained, "They're back there a lot. There's actually a lady that came by today who lives across the street. She said she seen two guys running that were homeless, last night."
Inside what's left of the buildings, supplies and orders are ash.
The owners said they're most concerned about their customers.
Halusek said, "We've got the paperwork, we got most of it out. It's blackened, but we can, I think we can get most of our customers taken care of."
He added that they're going to try and rebuild on the same site, but it could take up to a year and a half.
In the meantime he said they're looking for a nearby location to move to temporarily.
Joy said he's willing to help however he can.
The owners asked customers with questions about their orders call their Orange Park location at 904-579-3455.