“I feel like we’re in a little place here that people have forgotten about,” said Ann Yates, owner of The Bazaar.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — It’s been more than a week and many are still dealing with holiday freeze damage. The owner of The Bazaar in Memphis said they have been fighting to make a comeback.
“The water was running through the walls and everything. Pouring only. It just pours out,” said Ann Yates, owner of The Bazaar.
“The alarm went off because water was pouring into my alarm panel,” Yates said.
When Yates walked into her boutique in the Medical District, she immediately noticed the damage.
“I was in water up to my ankles. Water was coming out of the ceiling,” Yates said.
She has owned the Bazaar for five years.
“It has been cold every year. Why now, – asked Yates.
For the first time, a pipe froze on the second floor of the store’s business, burst and flooded her store.
The problem only continued with this week’s rain.
“I had to leave the back door open because of the wind and trying to keep everything from forming,” Yates said.
She clears a drain at the back of the boutique to stop water from entering. “I feel like we’re in a little place here that people have forgotten about,” Yates said.
The City of Memphis said when it comes to water issues in businesses and homes, it’s up to MLGW. If the problem remains unresolved, residents can contact the MLGW Board of Commissioners or their City Council members. To prevent flooding, the city said it cleans storm drains every business day. They inspect for flooding when the storm water is above what they call the Finished Floor Elevation (FFE).
“The city is standing there in front of me doing this, doing that … I don’t see any improvement, so I really don’t know what to think,” Yates said.
Although he felt frustrated, Yates decided to press on.
“I’m only a year and a half away from being 80. I could have just stopped, but I think it’s part of my DNA to keep plugging away and keep trying to do whatever I can to show people that you can’t bow down.” Yates said.
Her friends have set up a fundraiser to help Yates recover. If you want to support, click here.
