Lawnmower shop reopens days after fire

Two days after an oil and gas fire ripped through the family owned Lawn and Saw shop on U.S. Highway 190, owner Cathy Cardinale finally stopped shedding tears and broke out in a smile.

After losing “everything” her and husband Melvin “Red” Cardinale built over 26 years, lifelong customers trickled in with well wishes and plastic wrapped crates of new lawnmowers sat out front, waiting to be assembled.

“We’re coming back,” she said Friday. “Absolutely.”

The store, becoming somewhat of a local institution during its 26 years, was reduced to charred ash and remains Tuesday when a fire of unknown origins erupted in the repair and storage shop behind the building.

Oil and gas-powered machines fueled the raging inferno that sent plumes of smoke billowing miles skyward.

At one point, a fireball explosion erupted, destroying everything Cathy Cardinale and her husband had moved from the Southshore more than two decades ago.

The couple sank their life savings into the store, pioneered by Red, who has “fooled” with every machine he could his entire life, Cathy Cardinale said.

“Everything we have is demolished,” she said. “There is nothing left.”

But that didn’t stop loyal customers on Friday from popping inside in droves. Many asked what they could do to help. Others simply said, “I’m sorry.”

“The support we’ve gotten from the community is unbelievable,” Cathy Cardinale said.

With customer and family members who work at the store milling about, crews outside worked to assemble plastic wrapped grates of bright red Briggs and Stratton mowers parked out front.

A power generator provided lights for the front part of the business, which managed to escape demolition. Earl Dantin, a family member and employee, used the light to clean and oil what looked like bike chains. Nearby, a dozen or so new work gloves waited to be inventoried.

Suddenly the lights flickered.

“I just put gas in that generator,” Dentin said, smirking, adding later, “You’ve got to laugh to keep from crying.”

But it’s times like these that brings the family closer, they said.

“We can operate like this,” Cathy Cardinale said. “We did it during Katrina.”

She said she planned to open this weekend and keep regular business hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

Insurance should cover most repairs, she said. Meanwhile community love will do the rest, Amy Newman, a family member and employee, said.

“It brings family close, she said. “The business will come back. It’s just a matter of time.”