Maryland leather shop owner and building residents displaced after fire

LAUREL, Md. — A staple store in the Laurel community needs help rebuilding, after a fire broke out Monday. 

Outback Leather has been a pillar of Main Street for nearly five decades. But on Aug. 12, tragedy struck when the shop caught fire. 

While no one was injured, the owner, Ron Sargent, was forced to close shop and several of his upstairs tenants were left without a home. 

“Listening to the crackle of fire in your building -- that you put your whole life into -- I almost wanted to cry but I have to stay strong.” Sargent said. 

Sargent said the upstairs hallway was totally gutted and contractors may have to tear down the whole second floor. He added that water damage ruined thousands of dollars worth of property, and leather products. 

“We don’t know why it happened or how it started," Sargent said. "The building is about 100 years old.”

Through his leather craftmanship and memorable personality, Sargent has developed close relationships with people in the Laurel community, from motorcycle enthusiasts, to the police department. Concerned neighbors have been continuously stopping by the shop since the fire to see where they can help. 

“My customers are worried that I won’t go back to business," he said. "I will come back. I will be here. I’m not going anywhere." 

Sargent told WUSA9 he is working to re-open, but his priority is getting help for his upstairs tenants, who are veterans. 

"I have a tenant who lost everything," Sargent said. 'I feel so bad for my tenants because they have nowhere to go." 

The family has set up a GoFundMe page to help the residents who lost their home and to get the shop re-opened.