Lee Trevino strip mall: Good Coffee, Smokey’s BBQ Pit destroyed

We’re learning more about a strip mall fire that nearly consumed a block’s-worth of stores Monday afternoon.

The fire broke out inside the Trevino Village shopping center. That’s on the corner of Lee Trevino and Rojas.

Out of seven businesses, River Oaks contractors say only two are a total loss. River Oaks owns the strip mall.

“I wanted to show my daughter,” said bystander Rosemary Gonzalez. “She’s from El Paso. I wanted to show her that her Smokey’s is… smoked.”

Gonzalez saw the strip mall catch fire Monday night. She says thick smoke wafted from the building for hours .

“As long as people were not hurt, hopefully it will be nicer and better,” Gonzalez said.

No one was injured, and the El Paso Fire Dept. says fire crews were able to keep the flames contained to 20 percent of the building. East El Paso residents are going to have to do without a few of their favorite stories in Trevino village, including Trevino Transmission, Oriental Hut Chinese buffet, Allstate, Smokey’s BBQ Pit and Good Coffee. Contractors on the scene say it’s Smokey’s and Good Coffee that are a total loss.

“It’s completely gone,” said contractor Patrick Garcia. “The two buildings, Smokey’s and Good Coffee are gone.”

Garcia, hired by River Oaks that owns the building, says the fire damage is mainly on the exterior and roof. After two hours of fighting the fire, Inside most of the businesses the walls still stand and stores stay intact.

“We can be grateful no one was hurt,” Gonzalez said.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation. And soon the fire department will know how much all the damage will cost.