Jim Rispoli stood on the Van Buren Street sidewalk, smoking a cigar as he watched smoke billow out from the Carmel Corn Cottage across the street — the business he has owned for more than 20 years.
“The season is just starting,” he said.
“There goes so much popcorn I had made for the season.”
Rispoli had spent a month prepping for fall, when tourists from all over flock to the hills of Brown County. October is the month that carries businesses through the slow winter and into spring when tourists start to visit again. During a pandemic, the expected business boom is more important now than ever.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]After volunteer firefighters from three departments hacked and sprayed at the smoke and flames, the interior of the cottage-like building was blackened from the fire.
Nick Kelp, chief of the Brown County (Nashville) Volunteer Fire Department, estimated the building would have to be gutted on the inside, but the exterior could be saved. Items closer to the floor or further back of the building were wet, but could be saved if they dry out, he added.
The Carmel Corn Cottage celebrated its 40th anniversary in Nashville in 2018. Rispoli bought it in 1998 from the Pope family, who started it in 1978. At that time, they only sold cheese and caramel popcorn along with some Dillman Farm products, like jams.
Rispoli introduced many different flavors of popcorn — from caramel, buttery toffee and cheese to pickle, maple, bacon and Splenda (light) — and added baked cornmeal as an option for customers who can’t eat popcorn.
All the popcorn was popped in the store using an air popper from the 1940s.
Firefighters were on scene until 11:30 p.m. after calling in the state fire marshal to help with the investigation.
Volunteer firefighters from Brown County (Nashville), Hamblen Township and Jackson Township fire departments worked together to extinguish it.
A crowd of onlookers, about 60 people with their phones out taking photos and video, filtered in and out of the scene throughout the evening.
Rispoli was at his home on Orchard Hill Road when he began receiving multiple calls and texts about the fire. He rushed to the scene where he watched as firefighters worked, worrying that the other nearby buildings would catch fire if it could not be contained.
A two-story complex that houses the Men’s Toy Shop below and apartments above is next door. Another building that houses a craft shop is on the other side. Neither were affected.
Nashville Town Council President Jane Gore looked on from across the street. Town council member David Rudd was also there. “I’m just so pleased the fire departments kept it contained. They caught it early. They did a great job. It could have been bad,” Gore said.
“It’s sad for them (Carmel Corn Cottage) certainly, but my first concern was the town. The fire could start and just take over,” Gore said. “… I’d like to say we’re blessed.”
Chief of Police Ben Seastrom complimented the crew. “They were able to knock the fire out and saved the neighborhood,” he said.
Kelp said the town was lucky the block did not burn down. He and another firefighter arrived on scene about 10 minutes after the fire was reported. Kelp works as a Brown County emergency dispatcher and was getting off his shift when the call came in. Other Nashville volunteer firefighters were on I-65 on their way home from work, or at home at least 15 minutes away in the northern part of the county or near the Brown-Bartholomew county line.
On his way, Kelp worried the fire could spread to the entire block because he just did not have nearly enough volunteers responding at once.
“Firefighting is super labor intensive, so two guys, one guy is really not anything on that. You need a bunch of bodies all at once doing a lot of stuff simultaneously to make an impact,” he said.
The fire ended up being inside of the walls and attic space, “not anywhere you would see in the room right off the bat. You have to open up a wall and ceiling. It took a little bit of time to get into to get it actually fully extinguished,” Kelp said.
The building is owned by Bruce Williams and Larry Hawkins. Rispoli had planned to buy it from them that Friday, Sept. 18.
Hawkins, Williams and Rispoli sat on chairs on a deck across the street, watching.
“It is an unfortunate accident,” Williams said as he shook his head.
Insurance companies were going to meet to figure out next steps with the building. The sale of the building would be paused until they see if the building can be rebuilt, Hawkins said.
“If Jim wants to buy after we rebuild, he can,” he said.
He said he was happy that no neighbors or lives were harmed. “We’ll work through this somehow. I feel bad for Jimmy (Rispoli),” Williams continued.
“This month carries you through the spring. … It’s a tough day for him.”
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Help Jim” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Friends of Jim Rispoli have set up a relief fund at local banks.
Donations may be made to the Carmel Corn Cottage Relief Fund at:
- Centra Credit Union, Nashville Branch, at 182 Commercial St. (by the post office), or
- People’s State Bank, Nashville Branch, at 41 E. Hawthorne Drive next to McDonald’s.
