The tragic fire that destroyed a Hadley Mall on Sunday evening has brought together the community in a uniquely American way. A Facebook page is chronicling an outpouring of support for the diverse businesses that were destroyed.
Help the Rt 9 Hadley Fire Victims - Facebook
According to local media reports, here are some of the small businesses that may have lost everything in the inferno.
 |
| The Hadley Mall in happier times. The stores adjacent to Casablanca Halal Market were later occupied by Banh Mi Saigon and Mohawk Tattoo Parlor. |
 |
| The fire sweeps from the rear through Casablanca Halal Market before consuming the entire mall in an inferno that has been described as the "Wrath of Allah." |
 |
| Hopefully the Casablanca Halal Market was insured for all of the valuable imported hookahs and other tobacco products they may have lost in the inferno. |
Wing Wong Chinese Restaurant
Nancy Chan, owner of the
Wing Wong restaurant. Chan said she arrived at the strip mall about 45 minutes
after the blaze was reported and that she saw the flames take the family
businesses several hours later.
Hadley Dry Cleaners
Greggory’s Pastry Shop
International Food Market
Hai Cheng of Hadley bought International
Market from Ry Som and Ritha Krouch of Belchertown two years ago. Som and
Krouch had owned and operated it for 17 years before selling to Cheng. On
Monday morning they were with him standing behind the yellow tape.
Banh Mi Saigon
Left, Mung Pham and 2-year-old daughter
Dalyni Pham Son listen as Chuong Son talks about the damage to the shopping
center in Hadley where their sandwich shop called Banh Saigo was until the fire
Sunday night.
Casablanca Halal Market
Owner – Hassan Oubleid
Assistant – Mohamed Keffas
Mohawk Revenge Tattoo Parlor
Al Valenta, 58,
said his business was uninsured as well. Valenta said that while the tattooing
equipment can be replaced, other things cannot, such as original oil paintings
and antiques his partner Joe Cox, formerly of New Orleans, brought from that
city. Those were destroyed.
Valenta was on
Cape Cod with his wife celebrating his wedding anniversary when he got word
from a friend that his four-year-old business was burning down. Valenta and Cox
had become partners and less than a year ago rebranded the business, formerly
known as Loonar Tattoo and Piercing.
“I’m definitely going to try to rebuild,”
said Valenta, who worked in the variously named tattoo parlors at Norwottuck
Shoppes since 1999. “I’ve just got to figure out what to do.”
College Pro Computers
Steve Marcil, owner of College Pro
Computer in Hadley for 25 years.
Kung Fu Wushu Academy
I lost everything there,” said Binh Nguyen, 29, who
owned Kung Fu Wushu Academy at the rear of the complex. He started the business
two years ago with a $10,000 loan and said carrying insurance was too
cost-prohibitive.
“We were just seeing growth with the school and moving
forward,” he said. “I wanted to give up after the fire because, honestly, I
don’t have the resources to continue.”
Nguyen said strong support from his 30 or so students and their
families has encouraged him to at least find a temporary space to continue
teaching while he attempts to rebuild. A friend has already helped him set up
an online fundraising site with the goal of raising $20,000.
“I don’t want to give up on them,” he said of his students.
Nguyen said he’s so shocked by the fire that he hasn’t left his
apartment for two days.
“It was the biggest hit I’ve ever faced in my life,” he said. “So
many people’s lives have been changed. It’s so sad to see.”
Mi Tierra restaurant
- Jorge Sosa of South
Hadley
Hadley Coin-op Laundromat
Richard Czarniecki said the firefighters
offered to help him get the money from the machines. He has owned the facility
since 1991.
The building, according to town records. is
owned by Norwottuck Inn Holding Co. LlC and is assessed at $1,033,400.
 |
| Tragically, Casablanca Halal Market may have lost a large consignment of Charcoals - hopefully they were fully insured. |
No comments:
Post a Comment