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Parts of the outdoor walkway around Convention Hall remain closed after a twelve foot by six foot slab of concrete fell on Sunday from the ceiling near the northeast corner of the building, according to Fire Chief Kevin Keddy.

The concrete that came loose was four inches thick, Keddy said.

“That fell down on the deck and came apart,” he said. No injuries were reported.

A baby shower was to start where the concrete fell about an hour after Keddy was notified of the incident at 11:49 a.m., he said. Tables, chairs and other items for the shower were at the site [above] when the concrete came down, Keddy said.

Construction official George Selah inspected the site Sunday afternoon and will require that boardwalk redeveloper Madison Marquette, who owns the building, retain a structural engineer to ensure the safety of the north side walkway before it reopens, Fire Marshal Garett Giberson said.

The Anchor’s Bend bar on the outside walkway where the collapse took place will remain closed indefinitely, said Giberson.

The Beach Bar on the south side of the building can open, Giberson said. But part of the outdoor walkway there at the eastern end of the building will be closed until a structural engineer can decide on the safety of that area, he said.

The arcade walkway through the building and the businesses inside remain open, Giberson said.

Before the construction official arrived on mid-afternoon Sunday, the fire department had closed down the whole outdoor walkway area around the building as a precaution, Fire Chief Kevin Keddy told the Sun.

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