Fire destroys Monument shop

A Monument coffee shop was reportedly destroyed and at least one neighboring business was damaged in a blaze at a strip mall Wednesday evening.

The fire broke out in the Coffee Cup Café in the 200 block of Front Street near the close of business and severely damaged the shop.

A neighboring business, the Prickly Pear, sustained smoke and water damage, said Carolyn Mangold, the owner. An insurance adjuster is expected to visit this afternoon to begin a damage estimate, and a lot of work remains before the store can reopen, she said.