After a fire shut down the business last November, F&F Automotive is on its way to a reopening. Owner Cleveland “Cleve†Fogleman said there is a lot of work to be done, but hopes to reopen in September.
“It’s been a big nightmare,†he said, “but the worst part is over.
“I want to say I’ve been working almost 24/7, except I’ve been sleeping. And sometimes I get up in the middle of the night.â€
“This week, they are taking the roof off, and they’ll put the new roof on with the skylights,†Carol Fogleman, his wife, explained as a construction crew crawled over the roof supports of the big blue building on Weaver Street. “I’m hoping 90 days, but that may be optimistic.â€
“The whole building is basically going to be brand new,†Cleve said. “More windows in the front. It’s going to be pretty nice.â€
On November 8, a gasoline fire destroyed most of the building and damaged four cars, causing an initially estimated $350,000 in damages. Cleve now guesses that total losses are closer to $1 million.
“People around Carrboro have been real nice, pulling for F&F,†Cleve said. “Ultra-nice. Super-nice. That part’s been a real blessing.â€
He said people have sent donations and offered to help clear out the charred shop.
“Some I can’t let help for insurance reasons.â€
Meanwhile, Cleve repairs cars on the side, getting help from friends at Lloyd Tire and elsewhere.
“I don’t think the town would have been as responsive if it wasn’t for people asking,†Cleve said, explaining that people have written letters of support to the town government. “Some of our best customers, I think. We did a lot of student work. We try to keep the prices down for people without a lot of money.â€
Fogleman opened his first shop in Carrboro in 1962. F&F has been on Weaver Street since 1972.
“It’s almost grown up around,†he said of Carrboro. “You’ve got to accept [that] things have changed.â€