Six months after an explosion destroyed a Les Schwab Tires store in North Bend, Wash., the tire business is celebrating a new beginning.
In April, a natural gas leak at a pizza parlor that was under renovation caused an explosion that damaged nearby businesses and dozens of homes. According to investigators, the blast was accidental. It, however, all but leveled Les Schwab’s building.
Despite the disaster, employees went immediately to work in the back parking lot, using a 5,000-square-foot tent and a double-wide trailer for offices.
This weekend, Les Schwab will celebrate its grand reopening with food, cake and door prizes. The reopening is a chance to thank customers and the community for its help, said Kevin Scallhorn, store manager.