Babbitt, MN (Northland's NewsCenter) -Now all that remains of the building is a pile of twisted metal and memories.
Community members are concerned about where to get their basic needs and what happens next.
The shock of losing the Zup's grocery store is still resonating with the Babbitt community.
"We never had any big, major ones for a long time," said Eileen Bentley.
"What made this one so devastating was that it effected so many people in so many ways," said Ray Bentley.
Since Zup's and the local drug store were both destroyed in the weekend fire, residents needing food or prescriptions must now travel a minimum of 15 miles to get them.
Something community members are worried about.
"There's a lot of older people that don't probably drive anymore and for them to get out of town for things is going to be hard," said Karen Borsner, who lives in Babbitt.
The Babbitt City Council held an emergency meeting Monday morning to let residents know they are doing their best to help.
"We've already had volunteers putting their names in at city hall: do you need your grocery's? We'll go get them for you; if you need your prescriptions...we'll go get those for you," said Babbitt mayor, Glenn Anderson.
Mayor Anderson says representatives from Senators Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar were in town and will be meeting with the USDA to see if there is any assistance they can give federally.
State agencies including the IRRRB have also been contacted for help.
While Mayor Anderson says they have heard promising responses, they also heard some bad news Monday morning.
"Our drug store is going to close. Frank, who I believe is about 76 years old said 'that's enough,'" said Anderson.
Owner of Zup's, Ed Zupanchich says it's still too early to know of the store will be rebuilt...but that they are very hopeful and in the mean time...they have been talking about what options are out there.
"We have talked about mobile grocery stores. We don't know what that entails but that is something that has been brought to our attention. We've talked about busing people to Ely or to Tower...but all these are preliminary," said Zupanchich.
Whatever decisions are made, Zupanchich makes this promise.
"We're here. The community has been here for us for 28 years and we are going to be here for them," said Zupanchich.
Insurance and fire investigators are still looking in to what caused the fire and say that information could be released within the week.
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