LAPEER COUNTY -- The Past Tense Country Store in Lapeer County's Mayfield Township is open for business despite a fire that nearly destroyed the place last Friday.
Firefighters say the fire started on the second floor of the back of the country store shortly after employees had locked up and left the place.
No one was inside when the blaze started.
Firefighters say they had to fight the fire from the outside since the wooden antiques inside kept re-igniting the fire.
At least seven other area fire departments were called in. Firefighters were able to put the blaze out before any damage was done to the main part of the store or the buildings on either side which include the cider mill and antique store.
"We're still here, we're still in business and we're still open."
Owner Chuck Hiner says he can't thank the fire fighters enough for saving his business and now he and his family are working on getting everything back up and running as soon as possible.
The antique store and cider mill are already back open for business and Hiner plans to have the country store ready for customers in less than a week.
"Our employees count on us, our customers count on us and the community counts on us," said Hiner.
The Past Tense Country Store opened for business in 1970.
