Two Worcester businesses face uncertain future after weekend fire
Jay Grey couldn't get any sleep on Saturday night.
A fire had broken out at @ The Common located at 17 Mechanic St. in Worcester amid a major storm that afternoon.
Two of his businesses in the building, Odd By Worcester Brewing and the ramen restaurant Broth, were affected by the chaos, sustaining water damage from the sprinkler system and from firefighters working to extinguish the blaze.
Now, both businesses and the entire mall are closed, according to Grey.
"It's a tremendous loss that I can't even describe," Grey said.
The Worcester Fire Department received a call at 4:43 p.m. about smoke inside @ The Common, according to Assistant Fire Chief Adam Roche.
When firefighters arrived and entered the building, they discovered an active fire in the ceiling. It took firefighters 15 to 20 minutes to extinguish the blaze and nobody was hurt, Roche said on Monday.
The fire took place during severe weather on Saturday. MassLive asked Roche whether the weather was a factor in starting the fire but there was no confirmation.
An investigation into the fire is underway, according to Roche.
Felicio Lana, the owner of @ The Common, said on Monday that most of the damage was found in the back of the building near Mechanic Street. He confirmed that the mall is currently closed and that he is assessing the damage. He expects @ The Common to re-open soon but did not provide an exact date.
However, the future of Odd By Worcester and Broth remains uncertain, according to Grey.
Opened in March, Broth serves ramen inspired by comfort food classics such as grilled cheese, chicken parmesan and smash burgers.
Odd by Worcester is a '90s-themed bar where people can play vintage video games while getting a drink.
The water from both the firefighters and the sprinkler systems has damaged both businesses, Grey told MassLive.
The astroturf on the floor of the brewery was ruined, along with their televisions, point of sales systems, electronics and their fermenters for beer, Grey said.
The owner estimates that both of his businesses suffered damages worth $50,000 to $100,000.
"It's just unfair that this happens and there isn't a solution, a quick little fix," Grey said. "We have to ask for help and we're going to hope that insurance comes through and hopefully, we're able to rebuild."
Grey intends to pay his employees while the businesses remain closed. He hopes to make this possible through donations and has set up a GoFundMe .
"These are people that look to me for leadership that I need to make sure that I figure out ways," Grey said.
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