EAU CLAIRE — Patty Delisio dabbed tears from her eyes Friday as she stared at the smoldering rubble left of her business, Delisio’s Market.

The general store burned down Thursday night. Family, friends, and passers-by tried to console Delisio with encouraging words.

“It’s not the end,” Melissa Shay told Delisio, hugging her tightly. “It’s devastating right now, but I know you’re going to make the right decision.”

Delisio’s Market, previously called Thompson’s Market and before that, Beatty’s Market, had been a mainstay in the community of 300 for more than a century. Delisio and her husband, Tim, took the business over in July, after Gus and Marilyn Thompson had owned it for 30 years.

Delisio of Cherry Valley said she would consider rebuilding the business, but she still is taking in what happened. The building was insured.

“I hated to see it happen, but at least no one got hurt,” said Gary Bowser, owner of Automotive Excellence, an automotive painting and detailing shop next door.

Firefighters prevented the fire from spreading to his business by spraying cold water on the walls.

Gus Thompson, who technically owns the three-story building, had an article of agreement with Delisio.

“In the past five years, we got it re-sided. Most of the equipment was pretty new,” Thompson said. “And to see it happen, it’s disheartening, but nobody got hurt.”

The fire broke out just after 9 p.m. Thursday. It was finally out about 1:30 a.m. Friday.