Jimmy Chiprean of Miller's Shoes watched Monday as workers for Zehr Restoration of Meadville, Crawford County, emptied his shelves of 4,000 to 5,000 pairs of shoes and boots, plus socks, clothing and other merchandise.

The items will be taken to Zehr's warehouse and placed into the company's ozone room to rid them of the smoky smell that permeated the 128-year-old store Saturday morning, when three neighboring Main Street businesses were damaged by a fire that officials believe originated two doors down at Sir Speedy.

Shawn Trzeciak of Zehr Restoration said the shoes and merchandise will be brought back to Miller's, or the insurance company will sell them to help pay for part of the claim.

Zehr also set up six air scrubbers on two floors of the building, which is owned by the Chiprean family.

The air scrubbers take the particulate out of the air and help to neutralize the odor of smoke, Trzeciak explained.

As his workers carried merchandise outside to a box truck, Trzeciak was busy deciding whether the carpets, fixtures, furniture and ceiling tiles would be cleaned and deodorized or replaced.

Chiprean said none of the shoe store-related antiques in the basement — including the Buster Brown benches on which many older county residents had their feet measured as children — were damaged by the small amount of water from the firefighters that entered Miller's lowest level.

Chiprean's cousin, who works across Main Street at Canella Cafe, called Chiprean when she saw the smoke coming from the Sir Speedy building. Chiprean immediately decided to drive into town.

“It just takes your breath away,” he said of watching the destructive blaze and the 80 responders from 13 fire companies rushing around to stem the flames.

“COVID-19 was bad enough, but this was a crippling blow that the city of Butler's economy cannot stand at this time.”

He said his parents, John and Madeline Chiprean, were also upset by the fire.

“It's just hard on all of us,” Jimmy Chiprean said, “but I have every intention of re-opening, unless there are unforeseen circumstances.”

He shared his gratitude for Butler Fire Chief Chris Switala and the men and women who battled the blaze Saturday in frigid temperatures.

“Thank God everyone is safe,” Chiprean said. “Please support your local businesses in their time of need.”

Steve Braden, owner of the nearby Upper Crust sandwich shop on Main Street, is devastated that his neighbors sustained such damage from the fire, but glad that firefighters were able to prevent the flames from taking out an entire block or more.“Everyone with the COVID thing has been hit and struggling, and then to be hit with that knockout punch …” Braden said.He said the business owners on South Main Street are very close, and many are personal friends.“It feels personal that it happened to these guys,” Braden said of the affected businesses.Braden and Butler Beauty Academy owner Linda McCarren watched the fire from the roof of the beauty school just a few buildings away.“The flames were shooting high out of the top of that roof,” he said. “What a different perspective it was, looking at it that way.”Justin Moore is a server at Canella Cafe who worked early Saturday.“I noticed the smoke, and the next thing you know sirens were (sounding) two minutes later, followed by one million fire trucks,” Moore said.He said after Main Street was shut down, many people came into the cafe to order food and coffee for the firefighters.“I thought it was really cool that people were coming together and paying for stuff for the firemen,” Moore said. “That was the best part of it.”He lamented the potential loss of the historic Main Street buildings, but kept the situation in perspective.“It's fortunate nobody was injured,” Moore said. “Property is property.”He said he won't soon forget the chaotic scene on South Main Street Saturday morning.“I've never had a day like that at work,” Moore said.