Iris Boutique building deemed ‘dangerous, unsafe’ after roof collapses in downtown Chippewa Falls (2024)

The building housing Iris Boutique in downtown Chippewa Falls will need to be razed or extensively repaired after a partial roof collapse Monday night, according to city officials.

A plugged drain on the roof of the building at 120 N. Bridge St. is believed to have caused the roof of the two-story building to collapse into apartments located above the store, which damaged the store below.

“It caused the apartment to collapse into the back end of the shop,” Iris Boutique owner Leah Ritchie said in a Facebook post. “The front windows blew out on impact.”

Chippewa Falls Fire & Emergency Services chief Jason Thomsaid no one was in the building at the time of the collapse and no injuries have been reported related to the damage.

Thom said the roof of the two-story building collapsed at about 10:45 p.m. Monday.

Chippewa Falls city inspector and zoning administrator Paul Lasiewicz said he met with fire department officials and issued an order Tuesday to building owner Telisak Properties requiring action.

“It has been determined that the partial roof collapse and structural damage has left the building in a condition that is dilapidated, dangerous, unsanitary and otherwise unfit for human use,” the order states. “You are hereby required to raze or repair the building.”

The Chippewa Herald reached out to Greg Telisak about the property but did not receive a response.

The order states the site must be restored to an erosion and dust free condition within 60 days.

Lasiewicz’s order states all personal property and fixtures must be removed from the location within 30 days or the city will “remove said property and fixtures and will store the same, sell them or if they have no appreciable value on an objective basis, destroy the same.”

In response to a request from the Chippewa Herald for the most recent building inspection report prior to the roof collapse, Lasiewicz said in an email the fire department may have previous inspection reports.

“I only inspect in conjunction with permits. Not for existing commercial buildings, that is the FD,” Lasiewicz’s email said.

Thom said in an email to The Chippewa Herald that his department only performs fire inspections on buildings and looks for fire safety and fire code compliance. Structural conditions in a building are not part of the fire department's inspections.

It was unclear when the last building inspection on the structure may have been performed or what conditions were found.

Lasiewicz’s order to Telisak warns that if the owners fail to comply with the order, the city may raze the site and the cost of doing so will be entered as a lien against the real estate.

The roof collapsed into the apartments above the store on the second level, which then broke through the ceiling of the ground level store. He estimated 25-30 feet of the back of the building had collapsed.

Chippewa Falls Public Utilities Department has turned off the water to the site.

From the outside of the building, little immediate damage is visible. The lights are off inside and there remains some plywood over about half the windows at the front of the store. An orange cone sits on the sidewalk in front of the doorway, and in the back of the building police tape covers the entrance to both Iris Boutique and String Theory Studio next door.

Thom said the building owner will be contacting contractors and structural engineers to determine next steps for the building.

According to the store’s Facebook page, the store owner received a call from the police department Monday night that the apartments caved into the back end of the store.

“I am so sad and devastated that this has happened to my little shop. The damage is extensive in the back end, and we will of course be closed until further notice,” Ritchie said.

Katie Bushman owns String Theory Studio, the store immediately next to Iris Boutique, and said the building with her store sustained water damage after the roof collapsed.

She said the fire inspector and city inspector came through her store Tuesday.

“They said my place is safe,” she said.

Bushman said her store had minor damage to ceiling tiles caused by water.

“Some water came in downstairs and some sediment came through,” she said.

She said the apartments above the store were empty because they were being renovated.

“Can you imagine if the apartments had had people in them? That would have been really bad,” Bushman said.

Sarah Thomas said she “loves Iris Boutique,” and hopes to see the place reopen in the future.

“It’s such a cute little shop, and I love their stuff,” she said. “I really feel for this small business because we’re coming up on such a busy tourist season. I hope they survive this.”

Bushman said she hopes that the community rallies around and supports Leah Ritchie.

Chippewa Falls Main Street executive director Teri Ouimette said Wednesday her organization is working with the owner of Iris Boutique on a plan for the shop.

“Chippewa Falls businesses and the community are all pulling together for whatever is needed for Leah at Iris Boutique to insure she will continue with her business,” Ouimette said. “Many, many people have reached out to her as well as Main Street to see how they can help.”

Ritchie hopes to relocate or open a pop-up shop until the future of the venue is decided.

She said in a Facebook post Tuesday night that the Chippewa Falls community has been helpful throughout the incident.

“This community is truly amazing. It has been a very hard day, but every single one of you has brought me a little peace and a sense that everything is going to be okay,” it says. “This is not the end for us. We will be back.”