A fire severely damaged two businesses on Nostrand Avenue in Bedford-Stuyvesant Friday.

The flames broke out around 3:30 p.m. and impacted an electric bike shop and a braiding salon.

Video from a nearby business shows flames shooting from the store windows.

No one was inside the apartments above the stores, but there were shoppers present when the fire started. Everyone managed to escape safely.

Firefighters say the heat made it an especially difficult blaze to tackle. It took them about an hour to get it under control.

The fire marshal is investigating the cause.