Crime & Safety
Howell Businesses Damaged in Shopping Plaza Fire
Although no one was injured, the fire destroyed one business, harmed others, and forced them to close temporarily.
At approximately 3:43pm yesterday, a fire started at Colonial Coffee Shoppe in the Aldrich Shopping Plaza.
Southard Fire Department arrived first, and had to break down the rear door of the coffee shop in order to enter. The coffee shop had been closed since 3:00pm. The fire was under control within 45 minutes.
"The fire started in the Colonial Coffee Shop and Spread to Red Moon and China Moon, located on either side," Southard Fire Department Assistant Fire Chief Daniel Ryan told the Asbury Park Press.
Walgreens, Howell Medical Pavilion, Art Beins Karate, Landmark Cleaners, China Moon Restaurant, Red Moon Restaurant and Pizza, Asian Harbor, Spare Pair Vision and Remax Realty were all affected by the fire and its smoke.
“I couldn’t even see in because it [the coffee shop] was so filled with smoke,” Larry Mesimer, who works at Art Beins Karate, told the Star-Ledger.
Additional reports say that nearly 100 people were forced to evacuate the plaza, and that many businesses had to close early. Colonial Coffee Shoppe will need to be completely rebuilt.
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