Sheldon, Iowa — During the overnight hours of September 16th into September 17th, a severe thunderstorm packing winds gusting more than 60 mph, along with hail, stripped the roof from a strip mall in far eastern Sheldon.
The strip mall, which is located on the northwest corner of the Highways 18 & 60 junction, housed five businesses, Chinese Chef, Sheldon Nails & Spa, Northstar Community Credit Union, Impressions Salon and Los Tulipanes Mexican restaurant. All were adversely affected by the storm, but to varying degrees.
Although the roof of the structure has been replaced, not all of the businesses have been able to resume normal operations, according to Sheldon Development Director Curt Strouth. Strouth says Los Tulipanes received extensive interior damage, causing the interior to be gutted and rebuilt. Strouth says the owners tell him they’re excited to be able to reopen and begin serving their customers again, but they face a long road to that day.
While Northstar Community Credit Union is open in a new location, the Fusion Center on 3rd Avenue in downtown Sheldon, a spokesman for the credit union tells KIWA that there is still a good deal of interior repair that needs to be done inside their strip mall location before it can reopen.
The Edward Jones office of Dan Drescher was also extensively damaged by the storm. Drescher tells KIWA that he is unsure, at this point, when the office may be able to reopen. He says his clients can see him at the Edward Jones office of Sheila Peelen, or can reach him by phone at his regular office number, 324-2626.
The Chinese Chef reopened with drive-thru service only just days after the storm. Owner Andy Lee says the restaurant is still offering drive-thru service only. He says he has no idea when the dining room may be reopened, but says it will be “a while.”
Sheldon Nails & Spa, which is located immediately next door to the Chinese Chef, was able to reopen within days and continue to provide services from that location.
Impressions Salon, which is located adjacent to Los Tulipanes was able to reopen their business within days after the storm.
According to the National Weather Service in Sioux Falls, the peak wind gust as reported at the Sheldon Regional Airport at the height of the storm was 64 mph.
Drone photo courtesy of Dean Hansen
