Cedar Rapids fire and police investigate arson at Men’s Room barbershop

CEDAR RAPIDS — The Cedar Rapids Police and Fire Departments are investigating an arson at a Cedar Rapids barbershop Wednesday morning.

Cedar Rapids firefighters were called to 1501 First Avenue SE at 2:30 a.m. Wednesday. No one was in the building at the time of the fire, and firefighters quickly extinguished it, according to a news release from the fire department.

Fire investigators have since determined that the fire was an arson, and that incendiary devices were used, according to the department.

A Facebook post from the barbershop, The Men’s Room Hair and Beard Parlor, states that a couple of windows were broken and someone had thrown “several Molotov cocktails” into the building.

“Fortunately the fire department was called right away before too much was burned. We’re hoping to be opened back up by Friday morning. Very saddening that someone wants us gone that badly that they would do this,” the post states.

The fire remains under investigation and no arrests have been made yet.

Comments: (319) 398-8328; emily.andersen@thegazette.com