UPDATE: Fire that damaged downtown St. Paul Lunds & Byerlys believed to be arson

Fire officials now say they believe an overnight fire that damaged a downtown St. Paul grocery store was set intentionally.

According to the fire department, crews were called to the Lunds & Byerlys near Robert St. North and 10th Street East around 2 a.m.

Damage could be seen at the store’s entrance, and firefighters say sprinklers inside the store went off.

Fire officials tweeted early Tuesday afternoon saying there were no injuries reported, and the fire was limited to the outside of the building.

Crews responded to a fire on the 100 block of 10th St E. The fire was controlled and limited to the exterior of the building. There was no fire extension into the building or apartments above. No injuries were reported. The fire is suspected to have been intentionally set. pic.twitter.com/3ZOIDXSAt3

— Saint Paul Fire Dept (@StPaulFireDept) March 29, 2022

Store officials posted to Facebook overnight, saying the store will be temporarily closed until further notice so damaged areas can be repaired.

According to store officials, they are working with police officers to provide surveillance video in the investigation.

Lunds & Byerlys tells 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS they’ll remain closed at least through Wednesday. As one of the only main grocery stores downtown, many people will have to head out of town to get their groceries for the time being.

“They saved us, we had ‘Thank you Lunds’ on our windows for 2020 because they stayed open and they fed this whole community,” Connie Larson, who lives and works across the street from the grocery store, said.

The flames were so intense that Larson could feel the heat through her condo windows, a few floors up.

The Saint Paul Downtown Alliance calls Lunds & Byerlys an “integral part of downtown.” Adding in the following statement.

As a local business and our main grocery store for nearly a decade, they have been key to our residential growth as well as wonderful neighbors and partners. The Downtown Alliance stands ready to provide whatever support they need to be able to reopen their doors as swiftly as possible, for their staff as well as the entire downtown community.

–Joe Spencer, Saint Paul Downtown Alliance

This is a developing story. Stick with 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS for the latest coverage.