Local vintage store loses thousands of dollars in inventory following U-Haul storage facility fire
CBS 58 MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Colorful sweaters and denim line the racks inside Bandit MKE, a vintage shop that started inside a storage facility.
Now, these items on the racks are all owner Michelle Eigenberger has left.
“Working until 9, 10 'o clock at night in that storage facility, being like, what would it be like if we had a store? We’ve got all this stuff in this locker. Why don’t we make a store?" said Eigenberger. “We just, we don’t know what we’re facing right now.”
Around 6:30 Wednesday night, a fire broke out a U-Haul facility near Barclay and Orchard in Milwaukee. More than 35 Milwaukee Fire Department units were dispatched to the scene as cold weather and wind made it difficult to put out the fire.
"All my access stuff goes in here and now – now it’s gone," said Ken Miller.
Miller had nearly $20,000 worth of items in a unit.
"A lot of memories, the stuff that I had. The memories, the pictures, that stuff I can never get back again, but the good thing is nobody was hurt," said Miller.
Eigenberger says she had four units inside the storage facility.
"If everything’s gone, retail value for the things – well into the six figures. Well into the six figures," said Eigenberger.
In one unit, were items gifted to Eigenberger from her mom right before she died.
"I’m trying not to think about it because that’s a lot. You can't get that back," said Eigenberger.
While the loss is heavy, Eigenberger says she’s grateful no one was hurt.
"We’re just taking it day by day," said Eigenberger.
People with storage units have been asked not to come to the site by U-Haul because first responders are still accessing the scene.
CBS 58 reached out to U-Haul but have not heard back.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.