Lexington businesses trying to stay afloat after explosion

LEXINGTON, Mo. (KCTV) - It’s been a month since a home explosion killed a 5-year-old boy. That tragedy continues to have a trickle-down effect greatly impacting area businesses.

It happened after crews struck a gas line. Multiple lawsuits have been filed against the companies involved. Including from the surviving victims and Missouri’s attorney general.

KCTV5 News spoke with Sunrise Cafe on Tuesday, learning they lost electricity for three weeks after the explosion.

Owner Darlene Hollingsworth opened Sunrise Cafe 25 years ago in the heart of Lexington before moving to her new location just off of 23rd and South Street. She’s one of many local business fighting to stay afloat after the April tragedy.

“It’s really impacted us. It really has we’re so used to them being here and they’re not,” she said. “I’m asking for help and I’ve drained my savings. I just want to keep it open. That’s my goal is just to struggle to keep it open.”

For Hollingsworth’s tiny, but mighty team of four, keeping a steady flow is hard these days. Less business means less money.

“Once I came in for those first few months, I was like, ‘OK, here’s a rhythm, there’s something I can count on. This amount of money every day,’” said waitress Madison Johnson. “This past month it’s been a little more of a variable.”

Hollingsworth said she’s reached out to churches for donations and other resources for financial assistance.

The City of Lexington is even pushing the community to go out to their favorite local businesses to help . Councilman Thomas Rowland is behind the effort, but did not respond to KCTV5′s request for comment or interview.

In a scary time where things are certain, still the fierce force at Sunrise Cafe explained their main goal to provide a safe haven for any people who are grieving or dealing with their own personal struggles.

“We’ve been doing our best to try and alter ourselves and our business for the community as much as we can to help them,” said Johnson.

Staff at Sunrise Cafe want the community to know they’re a place of comfort and family, and encourage people to offer new menu additions.

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