DICKSON CITY -- Firefighters responded to flames at a shopping plaza early Thursday morning Thursday in Lackawanna County.
Smoke brought crews to TCBY on Business Route 6 in Dickson City just after 2 a.m.
The Fashion Mall in Dickson City has some businesses that have been there for decades. Owners tell Newswatch 16 if one fails, they all do.
The fire broke out overnight in the back of TCBY. Five others shops have either smoke or water damage and were also forced to close.
Fast Signs, a mainstay in the Fashion Mall, called its employees in to clean.
"Difficult, yeah. We have our installers out doing jobs, and customers are calling in. We just have to explain to them that it's going to take a few more days," said Al Arnal of Fast Signs.
Fast Signs and three other businesses in the plaza had smoke and water damage.
TCBY, where fire marshals say the fire started, had much more damage.
"Well, I feel sorry for them. They got the worst of it, you know?" said Arnal.
The owner of TCBY didn't want to talk on camera, but told us she closed on Wednesday to fix faulty coolers.
A state police fire marshal says the fire was caused by an electrical problem, possibly a bad air compressor.
The four other businesses affected expect to be closed for a few days.
"People who come here for a cup of yogurt, or a cone, what have you and just happen to stroll by. So, just the regulars, I guess. We're not going to have anybody just happening upon Gallery of Sound for the next couple of weeks," said Rob Chorba at Gallery of Sound.
TCBY is expected to be closed longer. The owner expects clean up to take months.
