Post updated at 10:27 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 29:
Just Food has announced its downtown food production services are on a temporary pause due to a fire at its Chop Shop.
Staff members of the Douglas County food bank prepare ready-to-eat meals at Just Food’s Chop Shop, 805 Vermont St., which is the former home of Terrebonne. The Chop Shop now shares the space with JB’s Cali Fusion.
Just Food on Tuesday posted a statement to its Facebook from Executive Director Aundrea Walker.
“Due to an unfortunate fire at Chop Shop, we must temporarily pause our production operations downtown,” Walker said in the statement. “Our team & volunteers are safe, but this incident will impact our ability to serve the community in the coming days. We appreciate your support and will keep you updated on our progress as we work to resume operations as quickly as possible. Thank you so much to first responders for arriving quickly and ensuring everyone’s safety. Stay tuned for more information.”
JB’s Cali Fusion owner Jordan Beber did not respond to an email seeking comment by the time of publication Wednesday. But he commented on Just Food’s Facebook post Tuesday, writing that everyone is safe and there is no structural damage.
The fire was reported to dispatch at 12:12 p.m. Tuesday, and dispatchers said over first responder emergency radios that it was a fire behind a commercial stove.
McKenzi Ezell, Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical data analyst, said crews were dispatched at 12:14 p.m. Tuesday to the small stove fire. Firefighters were able to put it out with an extinguisher, Ezell said, and then proceeded to ventilate the building.
The fire came a week after Just Food announced via social media that all the food bank’s shelves, fridges, freezers and even its warehouse were “dangerously empty.” The organization asked community members to donate if they were able.
Just Food’s pantry’s regular hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays at 1000 E. 11th St., near 11th Street and Haskell Avenue, in Lawrence. Learn more on its website, justfoodks.org.
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Maya Hodison (she/her), equity reporter, can be reached at mhodison@lawrencekstimes.com. Read more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.
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