
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 25, 1990                   TAG: 9004250653
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Short

VCU NIGHTSPOT SITE HEAVILY DAMAGED IN FIRE

A 104-year-old building housing a popular local nightspot and other businesses near Virginia Commonwealth University was heavily damaged Tuesday by a fire. No one was injured, authorities said.

The fire a few miles west of the city's downtown area was reported about 10 a.m., and flames could be seen for miles around. The fire apparently started on the roof, where workers were removing old paint.

Rick Giovannoni, owner of the Stonewall Cafe and Emporium in the building, stood weeping in the street. "I'm just sick," he said.

Giovannoni said he and his employees smelled something burning when they arrived at work, but he thought the smell was from a burned-out compressor.

The second floor of the building was gutted, and the roof caved in. The basement, which contains the cafe, and the first floor appeared to have received extensive water and smoke damage.

- Associated Press

by CNB