Greenwood merchants nervous after 3 more arsons

Timur Leno was relatively upbeat, considering the circumstances: standing amid workers repairing smoke and fire damage to his restaurant, Olive You. It was one of three Greenwood fires in the area late Sunday and early Monday, the latest in a string of arsons.

"I'm so sorry," said Zoe Myers, one of Leno's regular customers, hugging him.

There is fire damage to the back wall and smoke on the inside, about $20,000 in damage. An arson patrol smelled the smoke and saw the flames. "We were kind of saved by the grace of God," Leno said. He figured the restaurant would be open again in seven or 10 days.

"I knew about the others and had been trying to keep vigilant," Leno said. "I was kind of expecting we'd be next because he's been going for all the good businesses. I'm worried that if they don't catch this guy, it'll happen again. It seems like he's trying to disrupt the flow of progress."

Leno said he got a threatening call after the fire Monday morning, which he reported to police. "He said, 'Watch out. Your days are numbered.' "

People working in Greenwood Avenue shops Monday weren't necessarily convinced the fires were the work of one person, but they were generally worried, unsure of what to do, and often reluctant to have their names published for fear of being targeted.

"We're all completely freaked out and intimidated," said one of the workers, who asked not to be named. "I've heard some people plan to sleep in their pubs or shops. We've moving Dumpsters away from walls, and rotating hours internally to have some people come in early and others stay late.

"We just feel like sitting ducks," she said.

A fire was discovered about 11 p.m. Sunday behind a commercial building near Greenwood Avenue North and North 78th Street, next to a condominium complex. Seattle Fire Department spokeswoman Dana Vander Houwen said it was discovered, quickly extinguished and caused about $1,000 damage.

Another was reported at 7:40 a.m., behind the Greenwood Quick Stop at 8102 Greenwood Ave. N. It, too, was quickly put out.

Owner Wan Kim said she was opening her store when she smelled smoke. She looked all over her shop before going outside and finding paper burning in boxes behind her building. She said the fire caused about $500 in damage.

Vander Houwen confirmed the three recent fires were intentionally set.

Last week, fires were set at a CPA office and a guitar shop. And Oct. 23, fire was set in the Green Bean Coffee House and destroyed it and three other restaurants, Szechuan Bistro, C.C. Teriyaki and Pho Tic Tac. The Taproot Theatre and a business complex with second-floor apartments also were damaged, mainly by water and smoke. In all, that fire caused about $2 million in damage.

J.J. Wandler, owner of restaurant-bar Gainsbourg, a few doors north of Olive You, said, "I'm in shock. I can't believe somebody is doing it this often.

"I'm actually scared now. It's crept closer to my place. I don't know what I'm going to do."

Echoing the statements of several others along Greenwood on Monday, Wandler added, "We're not really seeing a police response that's doing anything about it. I just don't have a lot of confidence in the police right now."

A couple of officers canvassing shops along the street Monday declined to comment. A Seattle Police Department spokesman did not return a call to comment on the matter Monday.

"We need a citizens patrol," said Bob Smith, who had worked at the Green Bean Coffee House, torched Oct. 23. "I can't understand something like that, someone who wants to burn people out. But unless you catch him, he's going to keep doing it."

At Sanctuary Christian Reformed Church's office above the Chase Bank on Greenwood Avenue, Mark Mohrlang said, "It seems like the obvious conclusion is that they're connected.

"You wonder what more you could do to stop it, but there isn't much more we can do besides having tons of people on the street at night. People in this community sort of galvanize their fierce love of Greenwood and are trying not give in to the fear."

Staff writer Susan Gilmore contributed to this report.

Mark Rahner: 206-464-8259 or mrahner@seattletimes.com