Jackson Free Press

Traffic was snarled for miles around the Fondren shopping area, on Old Canton Road, early Friday morning. As many drivers took detours on their way to work and school, those who worked in or near the area had to park and walk. The rumor went around that "Fondren is burning," but upon closer inspection, it turned out that one business—interior designers Cindy E. Walsh and Associates—had burned. The store was located right in the apex of the main Fondren shopping strip. Smoke from the fire damaged merchandise in Summerhouse and the two clothing stores, Soma and Swell, in the same strip.

According to witnesses, the store's fire began around 6 a.m. Passersby, some on their way to grab morning coffee at Cups, saw the store engulfed in flames and pitched in to help pull merchandise from the adjoining stores. After the Jackson Fire Department arrived, onlookers stood and watched from behind the yellow caution tape. Some people walked behind the shopping area near El Ranchero Mexican restaurant as the department's investigative crew rummaged through the ruins. Capt. Vernon Hughes, chief investigator, said that the cause of the fire is still unknown.

"However, we do think it might have started on the second floor," he said.

The owner of the store, Cindy Walsh, was in Atlanta at a marketing convention when she was phoned that the store was burning. Personal friend Beth Dean said the Fondren area was growing into a great shopping area and Walsh's store had a lot to do with that. "It is just a real loss for this area as well as Cindy. She put her heart into this store," said Dean. "There were a lot of things that were one of a kind and cannot be replaced."

Walsh's assistant designer, Krista Slater, said that she wants to thank the Fire Department for the job they did putting out the fire: " They were very professional and sympathetic. They went out of their way to help pull things out. That is not in their job description."

In the last few months, the Fondren area has suffered a spate of fires. A diesel delivery truck belonging to Max Furniture caught fire in the Fondren Corner parking lot. Store owner Tommie Goodman said that the fire was caused by a spark plug. "It was totally accidental. But at the time it was extremely scary,' she said.

In addition, the abandoned Woodlands Bar and Restaurant building and a dumpster in the parking lot behind El Ranchero caught fire a few weeks ago. Those fires are still under investigation, Hughes said.
— Ayana Taylor