A downtown Kennewick bookstore is permanently closing its storefront due to smoke and water damage related to the fire at a neighboring restaurant three weeks ago. 

Storytime Bookshop shared the closure announcement via its social media on April 7. While the smoke from the blaze initially closed the primarily children’s bookstore, damage to the roof led to water damage from recent rainfall.  

Owner Lorelei Kennedy has only been in the storefront at 107 W. Kennewick Ave. since October 2025, having relocated from smaller downtown Kennewick storefront. 

“The good news is that we have had a huge hand up in starting to rebuild as quickly as possible, the bad news is that we've lost almost everything,” the post read. “None of the inventory can be saved and some of the furniture will need to be replaced.” 

Storytime will open a popup location at the nearby Discount Vac & Sew at 22 W. Kennewick Ave. where it will continue to offer books catering toward younger readers as well as literacy-based classes and storytime events. The bookstore is accepting donations of books as well as financial contributions to continue rebuilding. 

“We’re making the sweetest lemonade from this bad batch of lemons and are so grateful to this community for showing us such a wonderful outpouring of love,” the post said. 

The fire at El Tequilas early on March 17 closed the restaurant, Storytime and fellow neighboring business Earth Spirit, an apothecary shop that sells, jewelry, candles, crystals and other goods. Earth Spirit also remains closed as owner Erin Sagadin and the building’s owner work with their insurers to begin cleanup efforts. 

“My landlord is wonderful and is working with me but this is taking forever,” Sagadin wrote in a social media post on April 6. “Currently, we are waiting to find out if the ceilings are asbestos tiles because the ductwork needs to be vacuumed and that can’t happen if there’s asbestos. And the landlord’s insurance is saying they won’t pay to seal and paint the walls because they don’t believe there is any soot. It’s so frustrating because all they have to do is send someone in to wipe the walls and they’ll see it!” 

Kennewick Fire Chief Michael Heffner told the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business that a cause of the fire could not be determined due to the blaze’s intensity. However, the fire’s origin was determined to be in the rear mezzanine near an electrical panel.