Fire Damages Former Grocery Store

A fire consumed the back portion of a former Auburn corner store Thursday morning (2/23/17), displacing the owner and a family in an adjacent home.

Called in around 1:09 a.m., the Auburn Fire Department responded to the old Capace grocery store. Located at 191 State Street, the store had closed for over 20years ago. The Auburn Fire Department spent hours battling the blaze.  

Fire Chief Joe Morabito said one occupant was living in the back of the store. Neighbors said Joseph Capace, the grandson of the past store owners, was living in the back apartment and owned the entire building on the corner of State and Cottage Streets. Morabito said he made it out safely.

"The family has owned the building forever and a day," Morabito said. "There's still things in the building that were part of the grocery store."