Fire destroys Payne's Gym at Town and Country Shopping Center

Payne’s Gym co-owner Laura Payne was in church Sunday when she and her husband received a call about what happened to their business.

Payne’s Gym, along with other businesses located at Town and Country Shopping Center, was scorched by a fire on Sunday morning.

Around 9 a.m., Odessa Fire Rescue was called to a structure fire.

Four businesses total were impacted by the fire including Town and Country Barber Shop, Aaron’s and Town and Country Drug.

Reports from the city said that Payne’s Gym and Town and Country Barbershop are a total loss while Aaron’s and Town and Country Drug received severe smoke damage.

Laura co-owns the gym along with her husband Jason Payne.

Both were out at the damaged facility Monday, cleaning up some of the mess.

“Right now, we’re at a loss,” Laura said Monday morning. “To pick up and clean up … I’m really speechless right now.”

Reports from the City of Odessa said that an investigation is now underway.

While the cause of the fire is still to be determined, Laura “believes it started with an electrical fire.”

Payne’s Gym is open only to members on Sundays.

“There were a few members inside but, fortunately, we have some really great members who took action and called 9-1-1 and got everyone out of the gym,” Laura said.

As far as what the future holds for Payne’s Gym, Laura isn’t sure.

“I don’t know if we’ll be able to go forward to be honest,” she said “… From my understanding, the building has been considered condemned where we’re at so that’ll have to be taken up with the landlord. All of our equipment is gone. We’re just taking it day by day and we’ll see what the future holds.”

Regardless, the Payne family has been grateful for the support around the community during this time.

“We want to thank the Odessa Fire Department and everyone who came out to help,” Laura said. “Our community has been surrounding us with love and prayers … It’s going to be very hard. We miss our (gym) family. We’ve had wonderful memories for the last ten years.”

The owner of Town and Country Barbershop did not respond to an interview with the OA.