Rob Hardin / Chief Photographer / rh124104@ohiou.edu

Connor Lavelle of Athens thumbs through comic books that were salvaged from Sunday night’s fire in the Universe of Heroes. Despite the fire the store was selling comics yesterday from the spare room of Luke Potter Photography.

As workers at the Universe of Superheroes comic book store clear the crisped comic books and charred merchandise, co-owners Tom Green and Todd Grace now face the question of what’s next.

The two owners face an estimated $100,000 in lost merchandise — a cost that will fall on them. Insurance is expected to cover the estimated $200,000 in damages to the building and the apartments above the store.

“We must gather what is left of the store and try to build back up,” Grace said.

Insurance on structural damage covers all of the building including the apartments above the store. Senior Chris Hess, who finished moving into his apartment above the store just one day before the fire, said that he and his three roommates are being forced to either find somewhere else to stay or go home for the next month while the building is repaired.

While insurance will cover the building’s damages, it will not cover the damage to Hess and his roommates’ personal belongings. Hess said that everything in the apartment, including their furniture, televisions, food and even his roommate’s new puppy, was covered with a dark tint caused by black soot.

The funding for the store’s rebuilding is still up in the air.

“Everything has been so hectic the past few days that we haven’t had much time to think about exactly what to do yet,” assistant manager David Canario said.

Grace said that neighboring stores have been helpful throughout the entire week. Donkey Coffee and Espresso supported the workers with free coffee all week, while brainstorming many ideas for fundraisers such as throwing a concert for donations called “Save the Universe.”

There have been many offers from various companies around Athens for donations and fundraisers, Green said.

Luke Potter of Luke Potter Photography, which is directly next door to the Universe of Heroes, has allowed the employees to start selling whatever they can from the spare room in his studio, which started yesterday. The store will also offer some damaged materials for donations.

Though some things were salvaged, most of it was burned. Green and Grace said they lost a collection of priceless comic books, some that were the original pressing and others signed by famous authors.

It’s part of a collection that Green brought with him from his home state of Alaska where he ran a comic-book store for four years before coming to Athens and opening the Universe of Heroes in 2000.

Three years after setting up the store, co-owner Todd Grace stepped in to become the “Game Guy,” as he calls himself. Grace brought the gaming aspect to the store, and together they created the Universe of Heroes.

Although the location may be different, the store’s owners and employees guarantee that they will resume selling comics and build back a collection of heroic materials.

The boarded-up windows of 19 W. Washington read in chalk, “I assure you, we will be back!”