James Rada, Jr.
Looking better than ever, Paul’s Pit Stop on South Seton Avenue in Emmitsburg reopened on Monday, August 8, 2016.
A fire last December had destroyed some of the six second-floor apartments and closed the liquor store.
Neeta Pansuriya, the owner of the store, said that she smelled smoke upstairs and dialed 911. Then she started calling the tenants, trying to find out where the smoke was coming from.
“I had just started calling tenants when the first truck arrived here,” Pansuriya said. “Vigilant Hose was very fast.”
Units from Frederick, Carroll, Adams, and Franklin counties responded to the fire. The fire was brought under control, but the apartments were inhabitable. Pansuriya said that most of the damage to her store was caused by the water used to put out the fire.
She always knew that she would reopen the store, but it took a long time. Her insurance company had to be contacted and claims filed. Then she had to secure a contractor and have the renovation of the store done. Finally, she had to go through the regulatory hoops and inspections.
“We are more secure now, and we have the latest fire alarm system,” said Pansuriya.
While the store’s reopening was done with little fanfare, plenty of people heard about it. Old customers stopped in to check out the new store, compliment her on the store’s appearance, and congratulate Pansuriya on the reopening.
“Everybody seems pleased, and we are working to rebuild our customers to where they were before the fire.”
Tenants have also started to move into the refurbished apartments, although some of the former tenants have gone on to find new housing.
For Pansuriya, it’s a relief from the stress of trying to recover from the fire. Now she can focus on serving her customers once again.
Owner Neeta Pansuriya (shown above) welcomed customers back on August 8, 2016, when Paul’s Pit Stop reopened after a fire last year.
