A Lees’ Summit business is finally back open several years after a devastating fire. Swimming pool supply store The Water Hole has officially reopened three years after a blaze destroyed the business on Christmas Eve in 2021. The fire started from a spark in the electrical system, leading to a massive four-hour fire that took down the whole building. The smoke was so thick that parts of the 350 Highway had to be closed until fire crews could bring the situation under control.”Thankfully, no one was hurt. It was just material,” The Water Hole Owner, Nick Lee, told KMBC 9 on Sunday. The fire left only the skeleton of the 45-year-old Lees Summit business. The Water Hole, a third-generation family business, was a total loss on Christmas Day.”We wanted to keep it going in honor of our father. He loved this business,” Lee said. Lee also mentioned the overwhelming support from their customers since the fire. In the immediate aftermath of the fire, the business had to operate out of a house. Due to new city ordinances and necessary upgrades, it took nearly three years to rebuild. The Water Hole recently held its grand reopening.”We had plenty of people just coming in who wanted to see the building. Even when it was being built, they just wanted to drive by and see it,” Lee said. The shop’s owner also emphasized the importance of rebuilding the business in the exact same footprint as the burned-out building to carry on the business’s family legacy.
A Lees’ Summit business is finally back open several years after a devastating fire.
Swimming pool supply store The Water Hole has officially reopened three years after a blaze destroyed the business on Christmas Eve in 2021.
The fire started from a spark in the electrical system, leading to a massive four-hour fire that took down the whole building. The smoke was so thick that parts of the 350 Highway had to be closed until fire crews could bring the situation under control.
“Thankfully, no one was hurt. It was just material,” The Water Hole Owner, Nick Lee, told KMBC 9 on Sunday.
The fire left only the skeleton of the 45-year-old Lees Summit business. The Water Hole, a third-generation family business, was a total loss on Christmas Day.
“We wanted to keep it going in honor of our father. He loved this business,” Lee said.
Lee also mentioned the overwhelming support from their customers since the fire.
In the immediate aftermath of the fire, the business had to operate out of a house. Due to new city ordinances and necessary upgrades, it took nearly three years to rebuild.
The Water Hole recently held its grand reopening.
“We had plenty of people just coming in who wanted to see the building. Even when it was being built, they just wanted to drive by and see it,” Lee said.
The shop’s owner also emphasized the importance of rebuilding the business in the exact same footprint as the burned-out building to carry on the business’s family legacy.
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