FAIRHOPE, Ala. - A Wednesday morning fire that damaged a downtown Fairhope building, which houses a restaurant and several small shops, could not have come at a worse time for the businesses located there, according to one of the business owners.

“I could survive something like this in January but not now,” said W.E. Slay, who owns East Bay Engraving, a popular downtown engraving, awards and trophy business located at the Village Square building at the corner of Fairhope Avenue and Church Street. “I can’t miss the Christmas season.”

The top of the building was blackened and charred and the roof was pocked with holes. The interior suffered smoke damage throughout, Mayor Tim Kant said Wednesday morning.

“I feel sorry for all the renters with businesses there,” Kant said. “I don’t think it will be open any time soon.”

The building is anchored by Abner's Famous Chicken Tenders restaurant, but also includes a Jewelry repair business, a beauty salon, an art gallery and a boutique.

Smoke was seen coming from the building early Wednesday morning by a city worker and the first fire call was received by a city dispatcher at about 5 a.m., Kant said.

The Fairhope Volunteer Fire Department responded with about five trucks, Kant said, as well as fire departments from Daphne, Summerdale and Barnwell. Approximately 35 firefighters from the FVFD responded, he said.

At 9 a.m., two trucks were still on the scene, and several blocks in downtown Fairhope were blocked off. The state fire marshall and and an law enforcement officer from the federal Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms Department were also still on the scene working with the local fire department to determine the cause of the fire.

“We’re in the middle of a full-scale fire investigation,” Fire Chief John Saraceno of FVFD said into his cell phone, after emerging from the blackened interior of the building.

The building is owned by John Bethea and Baldwin County Circuit Judge James Reid, a city official said.

“Nobody was hurt by the fire,” Kant said.