Hen House Chicks reopen after nearly three weeks following flood, leaks

The Hen House Chicks is back in business after nearly three weeks of closed doors. The business was forced to close after flooding in the basement of the building took out a furnace and left the building without heat.

Tick Klock Drug and Palouse River Quilts also had minor flooding in their basements, but the Hen House Chicks had about three feet of water in its basement.

“We had the lowest basement,” said Nancy Cochran, business owner.

The flooding was the result of a water main break.

During the business closure, Cochran would go to the store to check to make sure everything was in order. On one trip there, she discovered water leaking from the ceiling and tiles that were falling down.

“Water was coming in from two stories down,” said Cochran.

This led to a Colfax fire and police response for a possible collapsing building. Once the structure was deemed safe, the response was called off.

“I called Rick McNannay and said, 'can you come in here and break into the upstairs apartment?'” said Cochran. “He brought everybody.”

The fire department was able to determine that there was a lot of water and ice on the roof of the building, and water was coming in.

“But the roof hadn't caved in,” said Cochran.

The leaking has stopped, and Cochran said she is hoping it stays that way.

The business now is operating with space heaters, and Cochran said she is not sure when a new furnace will be installed. She is working with landlord Kim Nguyen on that. Nguyen traveled from her home in Texas to Colfax after the flooding. The Old Rose Theater, Cochran said, also had minor flooding in the basement, and other buildings Nguyen owns have had some leaks as well.

Cochran said some of the ceiling tiles are still in need of replacement, and she is hoping no more water comes through from more snow and snow melt.

During the closure, Cochran also traveled to Las Vegas for a market show.

“It was scary going to market when your business is closed,” she commented.