An electrical fire on Main Street in Binghamton has forced a local restaurant to move operations temporarily.
The Binghamton Fire Department responded to 188 Main St. around 7:20 a.m. on May 19 after receiving a report of smoke coming from the basement of Yummy Market.
Minor structural damage and significant electrical damage were reported. According to the fire marshal’s office, the cause of the fire was “deemed electrical in nature.”
Yummy Market and Caribbean Patty World, located next door, both sustained water, structural and electrical damage, forcing both storefronts to close their doors to the public.
No injuries were reported, but the buildings will remain vacant until repairs are made by the property owner.
The fire left Caribbean Patty World in limbo. The restaurant’s owner is now working to raise money for repairs and lost inventory, and will not be able to reopen until repairs are also completed at Yummy Market.
Caribbean Patty World owner Tanya Williams said she is frustrated and scrambling to figure out what programs and organizations are available to connect with for assistance. As a temporary fix, the business is sharing a space with Family’s Diner next door, also owned by Williams.
“I’m losing (business),” said Williams, who moved to the area in 1993. “My DoorDash machine is not going off like it used to,” because customers are under the assumption the restaurant is not operating.
May through September is typically a busy season for Caribbean Patty World, with graduations and proms, but Williams is in the process of making calls to cancel planned community events and customer reservations.
Not only did operations downsize but so will her staff of 11, including nine full-time and two part-time employees.
“I lost the entire restaurant,” Williams said, adding all of her inventory in the basement, which she estimated was worth over $150,000, has to be replaced — the walk-in cooler, deep freezer, event supplies and food have been ruined by water and smoke damage.
Williams imports all ingredients for staple dishes like jerk chicken, oxtail and seasonings from Mount Vernon, which she said can’t be sourced locally. The bar was also a big portion of revenue, which the diner does not have.
The goal right now is to find a location “to really push out food” like a food truck, Williams said.
Grills have been set up outside to keep up with the orders being placed via phone or online through DoorDash and Grubhub. All of the calls to Caribbean Patty World are being redirected to the phone line at Family’s Diner.
The menu selection is limited but Williams was expecting a delivery this week to restock some lost supplies to keep up with orders as they come in.
Sulaiminah Burns, founder of Support Black Business 607, set up a GoFundMe page with a $9,000 goal to help with expenses such as payroll, equipment replacement and inspection fees at the restaurant. As of May 26, the page has raised $2,290 toward that goal.
“How our community responds in moments like this matters,” Burns said in the GoFundMe description.
How the Red Cross helps residents impacted by house fires
Above the two storefronts are 12 apartments, which also had to be evacuated due to the fire. Two members from the American Red Cross Southern Tier Chapter were called to the scene to assist residents with relocation and other services. The exact number of residents impacted by the fire has not been officially determined.
One of the challenges is tracking down people who have been displaced because they no longer have access to forms of communication, but the Red Cross is in the process of reaching out to offer assistance, according to American Red Cross Executive Director Zachariah K. Riley.
The Red Cross will step in to provide the basic necessities that are lost during an abrupt disaster like medication replacement, food assistance, hotel placement and financial support, depending on the circumstances.
Residents will also be provided with a caseworker to ensure they have all the required documentation for the insurance company and the available options to get them back on their feet.
All clients are assessed to ensure they are in a healthy headspace by Red Cross disaster mental health and spiritual health trained volunteers.
Kalyn Grant reports on public service issues for the Press & Sun-Bulletin, focusing on schools and community impact. Have a story to share? Follow her on Instagram @KalynCarmen and on Facebook under Kalyn Kearney. Get in touch at KCGrant@usatodayco.com
This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: What’s next after Main Street fire condemns storefronts, 12 apartments
Reporting by Kalyn Grant, Binghamton Press & Sun Bulletin / Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin
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