Skip to content

Owner opens pop-up store after fire destroys shop

BBC Brian Cassidy in a black coat and black hoodie. He is standing in front of the charred remains of his shop in ClaudyBBC
Claudy Cycles owner Brian Cassidy says he lost more than £500,000 worth of stock in the fire on 3 April

A business owner whose shop was destroyed in a fire less than two weeks ago has reopened in a temporary unit using two lorry containers.

The blaze at Claudy Cycles in County Londonderry, which started accidentally, destroyed dozens of bicycles - some costing more than £4,000 each.

Owner Brian Cassidy estimated that he lost almost £500,000 worth of stock in the fire on 3 April.

Mr Cassidy said he was determined to get his business, which he has run for more than 30 years, back up and running as soon as possible to try to recoup some of the money he has lost.

'Make the best of a bad situation'

Less then a fortnight on, Mr Cassidy said he was determined to rebuild.

Mr Cassidy said he has been blown away by the support he has received from the community of Claudy and across Ireland after an incredibly difficult time.

A firefighter is full firefighting uniform, holds a hose as water is sprayed across a burning building
The scene of the fire in the village of Claudy, County Londonderry, on 3 April

"So many businesses and people from all over have approached us and helped us be able to reopen," he said.

A building that has been blackened by a fire and a roof is hanging off. A number of doors and window frames are left badly damaged. Some white smoke can be seen from the side of the building.
Brian Cassidy says a passing lorry driver spotted the blaze while driving on his way to work and was the one who alerted the emergency services

"We've had to improvise with the lorries, but it's a start and you simply have to make the best of a bad situation."

Mr Cassidy said independent bicycle shops were "few and far between these days on the high street", but that he was determined to carry on and keep his business going.

More on this story