Page 15 - BusinessWest December 22, 2021

The aftermath of the Nov. 23 fire that ravaged the Maple Center shopping plaza.
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Picking Up
the Pieces
Businesses Leveled in Fire Start Writing New Chapters
Alexis Vallides has some experience bouncing back from disaster. Actually, it was her bother who had that experience. His business, Lati- no Food Distribution, was one of many in West Springfield that were lev- eled by the tornado that tore through many area communities in 2011.
Vallides has been leaning hard on her brother, and certainly gaining inspira- tion from his comeback, as she embarks on one of her own.
Indeed, Vallides is one of many business owners who were left homeless by the massive fire just before Thanksgiving that engulfed the plaza in Longmeadow that unofficially took of the name of her business, Armata’s Market.
She was called early in the morning on Nov. 23 to let her know about a fire in the neighboring liquor store. Less than a few hours later, her store was almost completely
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“As a business owner, things happen; we take a lot of risks. Every day, we’re susceptible to catastrophes and disasters like that; you have to cope and move on.”
leveled.
Like others impacted by the blaze, she is
starting to write the next chapter in her busi- ness story, and, while there are many emotions attached to this rebuilding process, she is, well, very businesslike about it.
“As a business owner, things happen; we take a lot of risks,” she said. “Every day, we’re suscep- tible to catastrophes and disasters like that; you have to cope and move on.”
That’s what her team did the morning of the fire — she recalls employees standing and watching the fire, and also conceiving ways to prepare and distribute prepared meals for customers.
Armata’s was one of five businesses impacted by the fire at the Maple Center shopping plaza, which left 74 people unemployed initially. The others are the Bottle Shop liquor store, Iron Chef
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Asian Cuisine, Longmeadow Salon, and Dream Nail and Salon. Most, if not all, have expressed a desire to reopen — in Longmeadow if they can, said Lyn Sim- mons, town manager, noting, as others did, that there isn’t a large inventory of retail space, and especially vacant space, in this mostly residential community.
One business, the salon, has already reopened in East Longmeadow, she said, adding that, as these business owners grapple with the many challenges facing them, the town, the state, and several
area business and economic-develop-
ment-focused agencies are bringing
Fire
Continued on page 56
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
DECEMBER 22, 2021 15
BusinessWest