Big Loss For Small Businesses

Mobile Police Investigation Three Theodore businesses go up in smoke after an early morning fire and authorities are looking for answers.

by Chad Petri

Published: Fri, August 14, 2009 - 2:15 pm CST Last Updated: Fri, August 14, 2009 - 2:22 pm CST

The damage is hard for some to look at.

“I can't put it into words, I just want to cry, I mean 8 years of my life is just gone,” says Owner of Fat Boyz Choppers and American Fleet Service Freddie Goodman. He's not sure what to do now, but is sure he'll need your prayers.

“Me and my employees are going to need it because it's going to put about 6 people out of work,”
Goodman's building along with a neighboring paint and body shop were destroyed by the fire. Goodman says he lost 1.5 million dollars worth of stuff in his business alone. Friends say it's a huge loss.

“It's taken him 10 years to build up what he's got and I’ve tried to help the best I can and it's really hard to realize that it's all gone,” says friend and co-worker Mike Wilson. With the future of businesses like Fat Boyz up in the air the question the owner has is where he goes from here

“I'm going to let the Lord decide that,” says Goodman. “He says He's not going to put anything on us we can't handle and I'll take it one day at a time.” A spokesman for Mobile Fire Rescue says the fire started just before 2 am Friday morning, August 14, 2009. Because of the large amount of automotive chemicals in each business members of the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms were called in to help with the investigation. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. A Mobile Police spokesman says a car was stolen from one of the destroyed businesses. It's a green 1998 or 99 Ford Crown Victoria and it may be connected to the fire.

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