UPDATE: Fire Destroys 2 Businesses in Downtown Eastman

EASTMAN, Ga. (41NBC/WMGT) – Downtown Eastman looks a lot different tonight after a fire destroyed two businesses.

It started just before noon today at Soo’s Fashion.  That’s on the corner of Main Street and Third Avenue.

Store owner Ju Kim tells us he smelled something burning and then noticed smoke coming out of the back room.

The flames then spread from Soo’s, which is the building with the blue awning, to a second business next door called Lunchbox at Roy’s.

Both businesses were a total loss and a third store had smoke and water damage.

“Something in the back side smelled like it was burning–paper or something like that,” says owner of Soo’s Fashion, Ju Kim.  “I didn’t realize that this would actually happen.”

Mr. Kim tells us he doesn’t know what he’ll do next, because he doesn’t have any insurance.

The good news is everyone made it out of the buildings alive today.

We spoke with an Eastman firefighter tonight who tells us the cause of the blaze is still unknown and there’s no way to tell because it’s dark outside.

He says the fire marshal’s office will begin investigating in the morning.