For Business Owners, It's Like a Death in the Family

Glasgow's restaurant, which opened 30 years ago, has become a popular destination. On weekdays, congressional aides and people who work nearby would pop in for a quick lunch. On weekend mornings, the line of people waiting to buy the grill's popular crab cake sandwiches and blueberry pancakes often stretched outside.

Glasgow said that although he lost everything, he considers himself lucky. He has a $10 million liability insurance policy. Still, he is concerned about the fire's effect on those who depend on him.

"My seven employees are unemployed." he said. "I'm unemployed, and I have a son going to college next year."

After hearing the news, one of Glasgow's employees, Nicole Krautz, showed up at the market to comfort her boss.

"I'm just worried about the people who have been here so long and don't know anything else. This is a family," Krautz said.

Krautz lives with Josh Howell, who works at Union Meats Co., another market shop. Howell said his job was more than just a paycheck. It was his life. Now it's gone.

Seafood and Baked Goods

Sitting on the brick wall across the street from the market, Charles Glasgow Jr. shook his head.

"I'm thinking of what I'm going to do for a living now," said Glasgow, 52.

Charles and Richard Glasgow, Tom's brothers, ran Southern Maryland Seafood Co., which their father, Charles, bought in 1941. The sons sold fresh salmon, swordfish, bluefish, rockfish, tuna, crabmeat and oysters to seafood lovers who did not want to venture down to the wharf in Southwest.

The company has five full-time employees.

Glasgow said he had "hundreds" of pieces of seafood in a cooler in the market and wondered when owners would be allowed to remove the food. "Otherwise, I'd hate to be around here later this week when that smell gets out."

While the Glasgow brothers operated the seafood company, Richard Glasgow's wife, Jenny, owned the Fine Sweete Shoppe, at the other end of the South Hall, which sold fresh-baked breads, cookies, cupcakes and pies.