UPDATE: Schmidt's Market In Southampton Sustains Significant Damage From Sunday Night Fire

UPDATE: MONDAY 3:45 p.m.

The owner of Schmidt’s Market on North Sea Road is optimistic that he will be able to open the store by the beginning of summer.

The damage is primarily downstairs, but on the northwest corner of the store the floor has been burned through and the cross beams separating the basement from the first floor are charred. As for the upstairs, it reeks of smoke.

Unfortunately for Mr. Schmidt and his team of 25-30 people, they will not be able to clear the store until the insurance adjuster comes by on Tuesday.

Mr. Schmidt said the store will not open for at least a couple of weeks, but the wholesale portion of the business should be able to continue as early as this week because the warehouse did not sustain any damage, according to Mr. Schmidt.

UPDATE: MONDAY 10:00 a.m.

The Southampton Village Fire Department responded to a fire at Schmidt's Market on North Sea Road in Southampton Village on Sunday night.

Southampton Village Fire Chief Mike Kampf entered Schmidt’s after responding to an automatic fire alarm, and found smoke shortly after 7:23 p.m. After exiting the building, Chief Kampf called the fire in as a structure fire.

Southampton Assistant Fire Chief Chris Brenner said fire departments from Hampton Bays, North Sea, Sag Harbor and Bridgehampton were called in to assist with the fire.

By 9 p.m., Chief Kampf and the fire crews had the fire under control, although they worked until just after 1 a.m. to put out any remaining hot spots.

“The guys and girls did a good job knocking down the fire,” Chief Brenner said. “If it wasn’t for the quick actions of the guys and girls that arrived, we could have lost the store.”

Chief Brenner said the fire was primarily contained to the basement, and no visible flame was seen on the first floor. He said the basement sustained major damage.

“It’s very hard to see such a great business in the village sustain great damage like that,” Chief Brenner said. “They’re great to the community and the fire department, and it’s tough to see them go through this.”

Shortly after the fire, owner Dennis Schmidt went to Facebook and posted, “Thank you to to Southampton FD, North Sea Fd, Hampton Bays Fd, Sag Harbor Fd, Southampton Village Ambulance.”

It is not known if the produce store will be open for business today or in the near future.

Attempts to reach Mr. Schmidt were not immediately returned.

ORIGINAL STORY

The Southampton Fire Department is responding to a call at Schmidt's Market on North Sea Road in Southampton Village.

Assistant Fire Chief Chris Brenner was not immediately available for comment.