Customers have relied on Ralph’s News Stand and Trophy House, 664 E. Lincoln Highway, for many everyday necessities. The eclectic shop always has offered patrons cigarettes, lottery tickets, the daily paper and friendly conversation, but after 50 years, Ralph’s legacy may soon come to an end.

Two weeks ago, the roof began to leak water to the shop below, forcing employees and customers to maneuver around almost 25 buckets strategically placed around the store. Roofers were called in to patch the leaks on the building’s 15-year-old pitched roof.

But as the work began, the roofers heard a loud pop on the west side of the roof. Workers immediately climbed down and contacted the city of DeKalb building department. They then called building inspector Lou Larson, who discovered that water had been leaking through the roof and into the walls for some time.

Ralph’s closed for eight days with a sign reading, “This building unfit for human habitation” posted in the shop’s front window.

To ensure the roof would not collapse, “bearing” walls were constructed inside the shop to help stabilize the building to prevent further damage. The west side of the parking lot has been barricaded because city officials fear that either the roof or the walls will collapse onto customers’ cars or, worse yet, customers themselves.

Roofers also have torn off the old roof and replaced it with temporary patching after the inside bearing walls were constructed.

After all this, how much will it cost to fix Ralph’s?

Paul Rasmussen, DeKalb’s community development director, suggested that the total cost for repairing the building could be as high as $50,000.

“I can’t fix it if it’s too much money,” said owner Ralph Seats. “I haven’t considered closing, but there’s a limit to how much money you can put in.”

Rasmussen said Seats has discussed the idea of obtaining a low-interest loan from the city to cover the cost of repair. The city provides certain funds referred to as Community Development Block Grants. These grants assist in housing rehabilitations, street improvements in low-income neighborhoods and business loans.

“We’ll only give him a loan if he’ll fix the facade,” Rasmussen said, “because this is a highly visible building that is part of the gateway into the city’s downtown.”

He suggested the cost of repair may exceed the value of the building, further noting that every building usually has a life cycle of 75 years. The building that houses the shop is 150 years old.

“It could very easily be close to the end of its cycle,” Rasmussen said.

Despite the barricades and bearing walls, devoted customers still stream into the shop.

“I think it’s probably because we’ve been here for so long,” said employee and DeKalb resident Michelle Marbutt.

In 30 days, community developers once again will fill the small shop to re-evaluate damages and construction costs.