Partial collapse closes East Cherry Street near Sunbury Square

A section of a building foundation on Sunbury Square collapsed on Sunday afternoon, forcing the evacuation of three storefronts.

Fire crews from the BST&G Fire District arrived at 2 S. Vernon St. around 1:55 p.m. They found that a large portion of the basement foundation wall along East Cherry Street had failed. Brick, block, and soil had fallen into the basement. The building houses Village Hair Company and two other businesses.

Conditions inside the structure worsened while crews worked to shore up the area. New cracks formed, and the north wall along East Cherry Street began to lean outward. The incident commander pulled firefighters from the building to keep them safe. Officials established a safety perimeter and shut off all utilities to the structure. The building is now marked as unsafe pending a forensic engineering evaluation.

No civilians or firefighters were injured during the evacuation. The fire department stated that the cause of the collapse has not been determined. Officials warned that the building’s condition is continuing to deteriorate even though it may look stable from the street. The area inside the barricades is not safe for entry.

Village Hair Company announced it will be closed this week due to the structural issues. The salon said stylists will contact clients with appointments scheduled between Oct. 27 and Nov. 1 to reschedule. The Sunbury/Big Walnut Area Chamber of Commerce sent a message of support to the affected businesses. The group expressed relief that everyone got out safely and no one was hurt.

The city closed East Cherry Street from Columbus Street to Morning Street. Traffic on the Square is limited to local vehicles only. The closure will remain in place until officials determine the building is safe to reopen. Businesses outside the restricted area remain open. The city encouraged residents to continue supporting local shops and restaurants.

The BST&G Fire District is asking the public to stay outside the barricades. Residents should call 911 if they notice visible changes to the building.