CHARLEVOIX, MI -- "Our plan is to see about rebuilding in and getting it back into works as fast as we can," said Murdick’s Fudge Owner Gary Murdick.

Thursday night a Charlevoix staple is shut down.  Fire ripped through Murdick's Fudge Shop forcing the owner to close for the time being.

This was the scene on Bridge Street early Thursday morning.  Fire trucks lined up outside of Murdick's Fudge, the latter truck fully extended to the fudge shop roof, and firefighters working quickly to contain it before it got out of control. 

“The fire clearly started in the back lean-to of the building, and then with the old construction, the construction of the wall, with the brick veneer, went to the second story, east side of the building, and we chased it up there," said Charlevoix Fire Chief Paul Ivan.

Firefighters worked hard to protect the century old building and the long-time establishment and landmark in Charlevoix.  Chief Ivan says with old buildings like this one, it's important to work ahead, because the flames will spread wild in the matter of moments.  Firefighters went to the roof, cut it off before it could spread any further, and worked, with chainsaws and manpower, to make sure it was out.

“The building is not a total loss, but it certainly won't be available for business anytime soon," said Ivan.

In the daylight, there's visual evidence of the destruction.  The history of the business dates back to the late 1800's where the first fudge sold was on Mackinac Island. The summer shop's been in Charlevoix since 1953, and Thursday, it sat quiet and empty.

"I just wanted it to not be all of it mainly, we've never had a fire before so it's new to us," said Gary Murdick, the owner of Murdick’s Fudge Shoppe.

Murdick says he plans to build on the same corner, but during the time of repair, he's not going to stop selling his fudge, he's just going to do it right across the street."

“We have a little building across the street that we were renting out, it's not in use, and we're going to see about setting it up over there, either making it and selling the candy over there, small quantities, because it's not a big store," said Murdick.

Murdick says it'll be a process but he plans to get the temporary shop opened sooner than later.