Three Grand Avenue businesses remain closed due to damage sustained from a Tuesday afternoon fire. The blaze originated in the rear of Grand Laundromat at 1700 Grand Ave., and spread to Huong-Sen Restaurant at 1702 Grand Ave.

St. Paul Fire Investigator Stewart Bestland said there were no injuries and the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

According to Huong-Sen employee Tim Nguyen, the restaurant will remain closed "for at least a month and a half," as it undergoes repairs. Nguyen said the restaurant, which has been open for 12 years, sustained most damage in the kitchen.

Grand Laundromat, operated by George Comford of St. Paul since 1971, suffered at least $75,000 in damages, according to the fire investigator. The city has closed the building indefinitely.

Many of the laundromat's washing machines and dryers are near the front of the building and appear to have avoided damage. The back wall and roof of the building, which is leased by Comford, bore the brunt of the fire.

Grand Laundromat manager Ron Steele said he and Comford were shocked and saddened. "This is a tragedy, we don't know what started it," Steele said.

The orthodontic practice of Tammy Meister was also affected by the fire. A note on the front door of the 1696 Grand Ave. building said the building would be closed until Tuesday, March 11 because of smoke damage.

An employee of Meister's practice, Kristie Hood, said she smelled smoke before seeing the fire and calling 911. "I ran over to the restaurant and yelled 'you need to get out!" Hood recalled.