'Suspicious' Fire at West Road Coin Shop and The Loonar Station Closes Nearby Business

Three West Road businesses were closed indefinitely after a fire began at two of the businesses at about 2 a.m. May 21.
The Loonar Station, West Road Coin Shop and The Beach Tanning were closed until crews can repair damage left by a fire that Trenton Fire Department officials believe began at the front windows at West Coin Shop and Loonar Station.
Evidence found at West Coin Shop and Loonar Station has lead officials to believe the fire started under suspicious circumstances.
Trenton Fire Marshal Jeff Evans said the fire had two points of origin, which might indicate foul play. Evans added he suspects the front windows were broken out before the fire began.
West Coin Shop and Loonar Station windows facing West Road were boarded up Wednesday morning. Smoke and heat damage to the storefronts could be seen from the street.
Hungry Howie’s Pizza and Valvoline Instant Oil Change were not damaged and opened at regular times the following day.
Dan King, assistant manager at Valvoline Instant Oil Change, said he saw a large trash recepticle behind the coin shop filled with damaged items.
The fire, despite having several containers filled with flammable liquids on site at the time, did not damage Valvoline Instant Oil Change.
King said the Trenton Fire Department inspected all of the buildings in the plaza and determined Valvoline and Hungry Howie's were safe to open the following morning. “They threw out hundreds of boxes at (Hungry) Howie’s,” Kind said. “But, they were cleared by the health department.”
Several items were lying on the floor inside The Beach. A sign hanging in the front window indicates the business might reopen in about three weeks.    
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