Shop owner opens pop-up store after fire destroys shop

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.

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.

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

“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.