What’s next after Grace Street building facade collapses

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — It was a night like any other for three grace street businesses. But shortly before eight last night, the front facade of the building that houses Tacobaby, Rumcow, and Kat 5 Kava collapsed unexpectedly. Shortly after the collapse, WWAY spoke with Lindsay Bass, an employee at Kat 5 Kava. She said that management has been concerned about the building for years. 

“Over the last couple of years, we’ve been trying to get people to look at the building and it’s not become a thing,” Bass explained. 

Bass added that following the collapse, her fiancé was able to assist in getting people out of the building.  

“Thankfully my fiancé, who’s a trained EMT heard it and got everyone out,” Bass said. 

According to a spokesperson with the Wilmington Fire Department, only one person received minor injuries. New Hanover County officials declared the building unsafe on Friday morning. 

But it’s not just the building that was impacted by the collapse. Tacobaby General Manager Tara Chambers said she is starting a GoFundMe for employees who will be unable to work.  

“Insurance obviously covers the building and everything like that, but it doesn’t necessarily cover all the people,” Chamber said. “So, I’m starting a GoFundMe for my employees cause we care about them. We don’t know how long we’re going to be closed.”  

Harp Builders Contractor Val Cleary was called to clean up the debris. He says this is not the first time he has seen a facade collapse in Downtown Wilmington.

“I’ve done the Cape Fear Apartments back here in 2017. Seven story blew out into the street. Then the comic shop on 7th and Princess, same thing happened.” 

According to a New Hanover County spokesperson, now that the building has been declared unsafe, the building’s owner will reach out to the third-party engineer to assess the damage and determine whether the building can be repaired.