JENNIFER TODD and BERNARD HARRIS
Intelligencer Journal/New Era

LANCASTER, PA - A Thursday night fire destroyed Zap & Co., a landmark vintage clothing store that for decades has anchored the 300 block of North Queen Street.

The fire injured an unidentified man who had been inside the building when the fire broke out. The victim was flown to Crozer-Chester Medical Center in Delaware County, city police Lt. Chris Laser said.

Reports that the injured man was store owner Steve Murray could not be confirmed at press time.

A witness who asked not to be identified said he saw a man whom he believed to be Murray being placed in an ambulance.

Murray resided in the rear portion of the building at 315 N. Queen St., according to Brian Stone, who owns Studio Stone, a hair salon at 317 N. Queen St.

Laser said early reports that the victim suffered a gunshot wound were untrue. He said the site was not considered a crime scene Thursday night.

At press time, firefighters were still battling heavy flames to the rear of the property.

Laser said the cause of the blaze had not been determined as of late Thursday night.

Firefighters were dispatched to the block shortly before 9 p.m. for a report of a fire at 319 N. Queen St. A few minutes later, a fire alarm went off at 317 N. Queen St.

County dispatchers said crews reported smoke coming from the roof of 315 N. Queen St.

About 15 minutes later, the fire was upgraded to a general-alarm fire and county fire companies were called to assist city firefighters.

As firefighters battled the blaze, thick plumes of smoke pushed through the front of the property. A smoky hovered over the block, which was crowded with fire and medical personnel, along with dozens of bystanders.

Zap, established in 1973, claims to be the nation's oldest vintage clothing store, and specializes in clothing and accessories from the 1930s through the 1970s. The store is known to draw shoppers from across the mid-Atlantic region to downtown Lancaster.

To passersby, Zap might be best known for its eye-catching mannequins standing on the street and in the store window.

Stone watched Thursday night as firefighters used a ladder truck to douse the roof of Zap & Co. with streams of water.

Stone, who has been at the location for 14 years, said he left the salon about 20 minutes before the fire broke out. He received a phone call about the blaze and returned to the scene.

"I just hope no one is seriously hurt, that's the important thing," Stone said. "There are more important things than damage to the building. That kind of thing can be repaired."

There was no word Thursday night on the extent of damage to neighboring properties.

Though Zap was favored by local shoppers, the store also built a following in the entertainment industry. Clothing and furnishings from Zap have appeared in major motion pictures, including "Titanic," on television programs like "That '70s Show," in independent productions, in Broadway shows, in commercials, in music videos and on photographers' models, according to the company's website.

Copyright 2011 Lancaster Newspapers, Inc.
January 21, 2011