FLORIDA CITY, Fla. — A Florida City bakery and restaurant is scheduled to be demolished Thursday after it was wrecked by a propane gas explosion back in May, which sent 10 people to the hospital.
Cellphone video shows the moments after the explosion rocked the strip mall back on May 24.
“Caribbean’s Heart was built to bring people together through food, family and love. Though our grand opening must now be delayed, our purpose remains,” owner Syndy Thelmaque told Local 10 News at the time.
Back when Local 10 spoke with Thelmaque, she told us her goal was to find a way to open the business.
“We were ready to share our culture, flavor and love for our culture to the community,” she said.
But now her business is scheduled for demolition at 8:30 a.m.
According to Thelmaque, a gas crew was inside her business turning on cooking equipment when something went terribly wrong.
Investigators say the explosion ignited a small fire and caused part of the strip mall’s roof to collapse.
Thelemaque said her husband and a family friend were among 10 people injured in the blast. Both had to be airlifted to a trauma center.
“I know I lost everything,” she said. “I lost everything I ever owned on a teacher’s salary, but life matters most.”
A smoke shop right next to the restaurant has since filed a negligence lawsuit against the gas company.
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