Hess Variety blaze causes $500,000 damage

A Hamilton family is reeling tonight after being hit by their second catastrophe this year. First, it was a brutal robbery and machete attack in their convenience store in downtown Hamilton. Now their store has been hit by a $500,000 fire.

The fire broke out late Friday night in the store on Hess Street North.

Officials say it started with a cooking fire in a second-floor apartment and then spread to the attic and roof.

No one was injured, but they put the damage at more than $500,000.

Ken Lin and his wife Fenny own the store. The fire broke out as they were still trying to get over the assault that happened earlier this year.

Just over a month ago, the store owners were victims of a violent robbery. Their security video from February shows the robbers attacking with a machete and a Taser.

Today, neighbors and customers were reaching out to them. Ken Lin says neighbors have already given them a gift card and flowers as they wait to hear from their insurance company and were wondering where they were going to sleep tonight.

Despite this latest setback, the Lins are hoping to re-open their store in a few weeks.