Seasons Rotisserie & Grill, Half-Price Tees and Le Rendezvous Swiss Bakery were destroyed in last month's Main Avenue fire, but several neighboring businesses also felt the burn.
Gardenswartz Outdoors, Termar Trends Gallery and Main Avenue Marketplace likely will be
closed for a month or more while they undergo repairs for smoke damage.
"It's pretty frustrating," Richard Ellis, owner of Gardenswartz, said Monday. "There's a
whole lot of work to be done. But we just take it one day at a time. I have no doubt that we'll be back; it's just a
matter of when.
"I consider myself lucky compared to the other three businesses," he added, referring to
Seasons, Half-Price Tees and Le Rendezvous.
Those businesses were destroyed Feb. 22 in the 700 block of Main Avenue. The fire started at
Seasons and spread through an attic shared by the three businesses. Nine firefighters received minor to moderate
injuries while fighting the blaze.
Billowing smoke found its way into surrounding businesses, damaging their merchandise.
At Termar, some furniture will need to be reupholstered or other arrangements will be made
for its sale, said Sarah Ellis, an employee.
All of the gallery's merchandise will be boxed up and moved so the interior can be painted
and new carpet can be laid, she said. The store plans to close for as long as six weeks for repairs.
"Right now, we're just packing it up and salvaging what we can," she said.
It was unknown how much merchandise was damaged at Gardenswartz. However, Richard Ellis said
his insurance company, Farmers Insurance, has been prompt and good about compensation. He had business-interruption
insurance, he said, and his employees will receive the same pay they normally would have received, if not more, while
the store is closed.
"There will be no economic hardship for my employees, whatsoever," he said.
Gardenswartz, Termar Trends and Main Avenue Marketplace all had offices on the third levels,
and some were severely damaged. Two apartment dwellers above Main Avenue Marketplace have been displaced. Eight to 10
offices have been damaged and temporarily closed from smoke and water damage.
All of the merchandise in Main Avenue Marketplace had been removed as of Monday. Doug Close,
the building owner, is embarking on a total remodel, from ceiling to floor.
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