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Rebuilding Begins After Fire Damages Surf Shop In Ocean City

By Cleve Bryan

OCEAN CITY, N.J., (CBS) -- The ocean was unlocked and for the 12th year the business people plunged, but Memorial Day Weekend has a hollow feeling at one Ocean City store.

Last Saturday a fire gutted the 7th Street Surf Shop on the boardwalk.

"It's tough. This was my baby. I put this together from scratch and we've been here every year. It's like there's a hole missing," says owner Larry Friedel.

He estimates several thousand dollars in losses because the shop had just stocked up for the summer.

Despite the emotional and financial toll, Friedel is excited about rebuilding.

"They're telling us we could be back in business maybe even in July. It's still all a blur but that's good news. That's unbelievable," says Friedel.

7th Street Surf Shop has a second smaller store at 11th and the Boardwalk as well as two stores in downtown Ocean City.

Surf lessons will continue during the rebuild from the 7th Street Arcade.

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