Business owners and community members rallied to support a family-owned grocery store that was destroyed in a fire.
Renton businesses and organizations organized a fundraising event for Top of the Hill Quality Produce on Sept. 4 after an “intentionally set” fire devastated the store on Aug. 24.
Collaborators for the event, held in the parking lot of Fairwood Square at 17620 140th Avenue Southeast, included C. Davis Texas BBQ, the Four Corners Merchants, the Red Tea Room, La Crema Patisserie, and the Lindbergh High School Booster Club.
Community members and customers attended the event to show support for and extend condolences to store owners Jackie and Damu Maples.
Renton residents Ramon and Aloria Rogers, Top of the Hill Quality Produce customers, said the store was the couple’s favorite grocery store.
“The store was just comfortable,” Ramon and Aloria Rogers said. “We got married and [for] our rehearsal dinner we got ribs from there — the best ribs we ever had.”
Steven and Donna Wong of the Red Tea Room and La Crema Patisserie sold gelato and baked goods at the event, with 100% of the profits directed to support the Top of the Hill, Steven Wong said.
“It’s this opportunity to bless the community and help out with another business owner,” Steven Wong said. “I mean, it’s just a horrible thing that happened to them.”
Heather Darden of the Lindbergh High School Boosters Club and Jennifer Brothers, Mrs. Renton Ambassador of the Renton Chamber of Commerce, assisted in running a silent auction at the event to raise funds for the grocery store’s repair.
Top of the Hill Quality Produce previously donated to the Lindbergh High School Boosters Club, Darden said.
“We’re just giving back,” Darden said.
Investigation continues
Store owner Jackie Maples said everything continues to feel “surreal” following the fire.
“All the support we have is what’s getting us through right now — just the community support and the outpouring of all the love that we’re being shown right now,” Jackie Maples said.
Jackie said she’s aware of the fire investigation findings that the Aug. 24 fire was intentionally set.
Police investigation into the arson continues, in addition to investigation into an “attempted burglary” at the store two days prior to the fire, on Aug. 22.
The Renton Police Department requested public assistance in identifying a suspect captured on surveillance video in the burglary incident.
According to the department, the suspect arrived at the store just before 11 p.m. Aug. 22. Footage showed him repeatedly retrieving tools from his vehicle and returning to the store. The store’s entrance and lock received “significant damage.” The man was unable to enter the business.
The department described the suspect as a white man with dark, potentially reddish-brown hair, and a beard, between 25 and 35 years old. The suspect vehicle was a 2006 to 2010 light-colored Jeep Grand Cherokee without a front license plate.
“Detectives also want to speak with this suspect about the arson,” stated Meeghan Black, a spokesperson for the Renton Police Department, in an email to the Renton Reporter.
The Renton Regional Fire Authority responded to and extinguished a flare-up at the store on the morning Aug. 27.
“It’s not uncommon in a large structure like this after a fire to experience some smoldering or flare-ups,” the Renton Firefighters IAFF 864 stated on social media in response to the incident. “There was a roof collapse and structural concerns during previous firefighting operations that would have made it difficult to extinguish all hot spots completely.”
A GoFundMe started for the business aims to raise $100,000 for reconstruction efforts, with an additional donation page set up at the website of Top of the Hill Quality Produce.
Jackie and Damu Maples have plans to rebuild in the future.
“We’ve always been a huge part of the community, but because this tragedy has happened, we’re just seeing how full-course that has come,” Jackie Maples said. “I mean, we’re truly blessed to have this many people that care so much about us.”
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Heather Darden of the Lindbergh High School Boosters Club and Mrs. Renton Ambassador, Jennifer Brothers. (Benjamin Leung/Renton Reporter)
Community members line up in front of C. Davis Texas BBQ at Wednesday’s fundraiser for Top of the Hill Quality Produce. (Benjamin Leung/Renton Reporter)
