Students passing the Alcoa Exchange shopping center the morning of August 16 found one of Bryant’s most beloved shoe stores billowing smoke. Because of electrical wiring in the cash register, Shoe Carnival caught on fire at 8 a.m. It took about three hours to put out the fire. Further smoke and water damage impacted Rue 21 because of their shared wall with Shoe Carnival.

Senior Jaelyn Jones worked at Shoe Carnival for about two months prior to the fire.

“I heard about the fire at about 8:30 in the morning,” Jones said. “The only thing they told us [was] that it was electrical started by the cash register.”  

Though Jones described the store as “demolished,” no injuries were reported.

Fires caused by electrical wiring are very common in the U.S.  According to the Fire Protection Association, 41,200 home structure fires are caused by “electrical distribution.”

Thankfully, no employees lost their jobs.

“We all just got transferred [to other locations],” Jones said.  

Jones was transferred to the Little Rock store on Chenal. It is unclear when the damaged location will reopen, but they are planning a temporary fix.

“[Shoe Carnival] will be opening a temporary store October 15 in the strip next to Ashley Furniture,” Jones said.