Loss of family business in Kirkwood Block fire sparks outpouring of support for Winnipeg couple

The fire that destroyed the Kirkwood Block building this week took with it a decades-old family business and the home of a Winnipeg couple.

"I think that store was everything to our family, and I think it's a pretty devastating loss," said Paul Lee, whoseparents owned Eben Convenience Store.

Lee's parents lived in an unit next to the store, which was also destroyed in the fire.

"So in addition to losing their business, they've lost all of their material possessions," he said. "They've lost baby photos, clothing. They literally left with the clothing on their back."

The family started the business shortly after arriving in Winnipeg from South Korea in 1998.

"Some of my very first memories ever in Canada were in that store," Lee said, speaking to CBCNews over the phone from Vancouver.

"For as long as I can remember, that store has been a part of the community, but it's also a part of my family's immigrant story."

Now, that story has received the attention of some celebrities known for playing characters in a fictional story similar to Lee's family.

Andrew Phung, who played the character Kimchee Han on the CBC Television sitcom Kim's Convenience, tweeted a link to a GoFundMe page set up by Lee to help his parents.

That was retweeted by Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, who playedKim Sang-il on the same show.

"I was thrilled. I am obsessed with the show," Lee said.

The fundraiser hadraised nearly $21,000 of its $30,000 goal as of Friday afternoon.

Lee says his parents are overwhelmed by the response from the community.

Portage Avenue reopened

The 110-year-old Kirkwood Block building, which was destroyed by a fire that closed Portage Avenue for two days,was partly demolished overnight.

The building, which housed the West End BIZ storefront, went up in flames Wednesday morning, spewing large plumes of smoke into the air over the next two days as crews worked to put out the blaze.

Portage between Memorial Boulevard and Sherbrook Street was closed for nearly two days as firefighters continued to pour water onto the building.

That stretch of Portage reopened Friday morning,the city said, though the westbound curbside lane at Langside remained blocked.

Fire crews couldn't enter the building, which quicklybecame engulfed in flames, over fears it might collapse.

No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire is being investigated.

Built in 1912, the Kirkwood Block has been home to a mix of retail and office space over the years.ClubMorocco was a popular nightclub there from the 1960s into the 1980s.

In recent years, it washome to the West End BIZ headquarters, a convenience store, a hairdresser and a nightclub, among other businesses.