SPOKANE, Wash. – A fire in a downtown apartment building caused major disruptions, leading to a burst water pipe and widespread flooding. Popular local businesses, including O’Doherty’s Irish Pub and Boo Radley’s, have been forced to close temporarily as they deal with the aftermath.
Tim O’Doherty, the owner, shared that they hope to reopen sometime next week, but the timeline is uncertain. Despite the challenges, O’Doherty’s Irish Pub remains optimistic.
“We’ll all make some memories together I guess,” Tim O’Doherty said.
The pub, known for its unique tradition of patrons leaving dollar bills on the walls, continues to find value in small things. Around noon Thursday, an electrician turned back on the power.
“A really good sign for us,” Manager Lily O’Doherty said. “Hoping the extent of the damage is only into the next week or so.”
The broken pipe is not on O’Doherty’s property, and the building cannot reopen until the water is fixed. The building owner, currently in Texas, has yet to respond to Tim’s offer to cover repair costs.
“I feel frustrated in that regard,” Tim said. “You just send the bill to me.”
O’Doherty’s Irish Pub has experienced several floods in the building, with this being the worst yet. Despite the setback, they consider themselves fortunate; the only material loss is food in the fridge.
