Hillcrest store’s future uncertain - Parry Sound

Hillcrest store’s future uncertain

• By Stephannie Johnson

Hillcrest store’s future uncertain. Firefighters spray water on Hillcrest Grocery that was gutted by fire on the morning of March 23. Cody Storm Cooper/North Star file photo

PARRY SOUND – Tony Swim says he's asked every day whether he's rebuilding his William Street Store, Hillcrest Grocery.
And he answers the same way, he will if he can.
In the early hours of March 23 a fire broke out at the neighborhood landmark, burning it to the ground. A month later, community members organized a fundraiser and collected approximately $8,000 for Swim and his partner Sue Bye.
On Friday, Swim talked about the sleepless nights he's suffered since the fire.
"I didn't get one cent from (the insurance)," said Swim. "(The insurance money) went to the people who hold the mortgage and that was it. There's no money left. What I was insured for was the mortgage and a little bit for contents insurance, but because it was an actual cash-value policy, and because the building is old, they depreciate the shingles, they depreciate the siding, they depreciate the windows and the doors, so it brings (the insurance payout) down. I didn't get one cent, not one cent, which is okay, the people that put the money out there for me are taken care of, that's a blessing. So I basically own a bunch of charcoal, a burnt building."
Swim said he didn't want to say too much about rebuilding, but did say he's working hard with "private guys" to try and get the convenience store rebuilt.
"If the finances fall into place...we'll see what happens. I sure hope we can do something for the neighborhood," he said.
And in the event he's unable to rebuild, Swim said he wants to return the fundraising money back to the community.
"As far as money from the benefit goes, if I do not rebuild, I'm going to put it back into the community, whatever the community wants to do with it," he said. If anyone wants to call me and ask me what's going on, I'm in the phone book. I'm an honest man. If the store doesn't get done, the money will be going back into the community. The money wasn't going to rebuild a store, the money was to get us through the tough times that we had, because we lost everything. That's how we paid our bills. If it's in the cards, I'm certainly going to (rebuild)...if I can't do it, I sure hope somebody does." 

http://www.cottagecountrynow.ca/news/article/1489989--hillcrest-store-s-future-uncertain