Facade Of Livonia Strip Mall Collapses [PHOTOS]

LIVONIA (WWJ) - Luckily no one was walking by when part of the facade of a Livonia strip mall collapsed.

It happened Wednesday afternoon at the northwest corner of Merriman and 5 Mile Road.

Affected stores include a Honey Baked Ham, Family Dollar, nail salon and a liquor store – all fronted by a green metal and brick awning that overhangs the sidewalk.

Shortly after 2 p.m., it gave out and crashed to the ground.

Sam Shookery, owner of Showerman Fine Wine & Liquor, heard it come down.

"We kept hearing pops and crack noises, and then it finally gave up and collapsed," he told WWJ Newsradio 950's Jon Hewett. "We were very fortunate there were no injuries or fatalities."

It was not immediately clear what might have led to the collapse.

Fire crews were on the scene assessing the damage, following quickly by workers with BELFOR Restoration who estimated it would be at least a few days before sufficient repairs could be made to allow the stores to reopen.