We want to let you know how much more we have learned about the Renton Community since the downtown Renton fire on June 11.

We have seen brave firefighters risk their lives to go into the burning building to put out the fire that saved our building. Our store, the Common Ground Coffee and Cupcakes, suffered whole-store smoke damage from top to bottom and back-of-the-store water damage. We lost most of our inventory and suffered a damaged air-conditioning system. We were down a week.

During the whole time, we had experienced first hand an outpouring of concern and well wishes from the community. We experienced a constant stream of people coming by to offer assistance. Many many people came by offering to roll up their sleeves and volunteer to get our store back in order. We had people of all ages, teenagers, adults and even kids offering help. A mom with little ones showed up to help “save hercupcake store” and then another mom with kids in tow showed up a minute later. A teenage girl came by with her mom and hugged Heng, my wife, to show her concern. People were also offering to take up collections to reupply us.

Calico Cheese Cake also freely and happily lent us their kitchen to supply a cupcake wedding the day after the fire. The Green and Russo law firm lent us their conference room to set up the cake decorations. These two businesses helped save the wedding order and made a bride very happy. Renton did not disappoint!

We were very gratified by all the attention, offerings of help and actual assistance. What a community! With Venturi Technologies of Tukwila and our staff, we were able to reopen within a week after much scrubbing and inventory re-supplying.

Because our landlord, Harvey Ho, had upgraded our building, we had affordable insurance. The Comic Den, A-1 Vacuum and CK Nails were not as lucky, though and can be helped through a fund at the Renton U.S.Bank.

Since we have been reopened, people have streamed in to tell us that they are glad for our recovery and to support us.

This is not the first time that the community jumped to our aid. During our first year when a car crashed into our building, Charles of St. Charles Antiques and Restoration and other strangers to us at the time, jumped to our help to clean up the mess and to secure our building.

These incidences all makes us more proud to wear my “I Love Renton”button. Everyday were are more gratified and reassured that Renton was the right place when we opened our store a couple of years ago. Renton is indeed “ahead of the curve” in heart! It’s a place that my own heart is growing fonder by the day. We have found our roots.

Lange and Heng Woon are the owners of Common Ground Coffee and Cupcakes at the corner of Wells Avenue and Third Street in downtown Renton.