West Side businesses begin recovery

In addition to the uprooted tree at its entrance shown in the photo above, Hofbrauhaus Restaurant and Catering, located at 1105 Main St., experienced extensive damage to its roof, electrical systems and famed Beer Garden during the tornado that touched down in the Merrick section of West Springfield on June 1.
Reminder Publications photo by Mike Briotta

By Debbie Gardner Assistant Editor WEST SPRINGFIELD — Tornado damage to businesses in this town have ranged from the complete destruction of the warehouse that housed Latino Food Distributors on New Bridge Street to the partial roof, electrical and beer garden damage that has not kept the Hofbrauhaus Restaurant and Catering at 1105 Main St. closed, but has left its building "limping," according to owner Joe Stevens. "People think we're not open because the lights aren't on. Our sign and marquee need to get repaired in the next week or two so people can see we are open," he said. Stevens's complaint of customers not knowing a business is up and running, at least in a partial way, is something West of The River Chamber of Commerce Chairman Dale Mazanec said he has heard over and over from members who had businesses in and around the hard-hit Merrick area. He said the anxiety level is high among business owners in that section of town. "One, people don't know that [many businesses] are open, even if it's on a partial basis," Mazanec said. "Two, if they are open [now] at 50, 60 or 70 percent, how do they get back up to 100 percent and if they do, how will their customers know?" West Springfield Building Inspector Patrick Moore estimated that "15 to 20 both small and large businesses" sustained some level of damage in the eF3 tornado that cut a 40-mile path of destruction from Westfield to Charlton on June 1. Some, like Latino Food Distribuitors, have been fortunate to find a new location and get back to full operations quickly. Owner Jim Vallides, who also owns 90 Meat Outlet in Springfield's North End, said his New Bridge Street location was a leased space, and he was able to find another warehouse for his Latino products distribution company within a few days of the storm. "I'm just starting back up as quickly as I can so I can give my employees jobs and keep serving my customers," Vallides said. He added that he hasn't stopped to worry about the total cost of his losses, or deal with his insurance company, as of yet. "I've been more interested in getting back up and running," Vallides said. Martha Tighe, executive director of the Parish Cupboard, an emergency food resource located at 1023 Main St., said she's seen some small businesses in the neighborhood beginning to rebuild, but that there are still "many businesses with their windows blown out." The destruction wrought by the tornado has significantly "changed the face of the neighborhood," she said. "It's a sad thing to see a lot of these mom and pop businesses go down." Mazanec said now that affected neighborhoods in West Springfield and other cities and towns have been declared a federal disaster zone by President Barack Obama, more money in the form of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants and Small Business Administration (SBA) loans will be available to assist small businesses — as well as homeowner and renters — with the rebuilding process. However, he said, one of the problems is that there is "a great amount of information to be distributed" to the individuals and businesses that have been affected. "We want to get this information to everyone involved," he said. "We're trying to figure out [the best method] so that the people who need this can get the information and take advantage of this help." He said the WRC is hoping to host a meeting or town hall-style assembly soon — perhaps in conjunction with the municipal government — to distribute the FEMA and SBA information and possibly bring in some local officials who can guide small business owners through the application process.

Mazanec said the first step for anyone small business owner, homeowner or renter who suffered tornado related damage is to register with FEMA. The phone number is 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) and the Web site is http://www.fema.gov/assistance/index.shtm. "The SBA uses the FEMA database to send out applications so it's important to start with that as step one," Mazanec said. He said business owners can contact the SBA directly by e-mailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. The Web site for disaster assistance is www.sba.gov. A disaster assistance center has also been set up on the third floor of the J. Edward Christian Municipal Office Building at 26 Central St. The hours will be 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week until all tornado victims have been helped. "Most people think of [the SBA] as just businesses, but their disaster assistance covers both homes, businesses and economic injury," Mazanec said. "For homeowners and renters, there are loans." The amount of loan assistance for homeowners or renters is up to $40,000 to replace clothing, furniture, cars or appliances, which were damaged or destroyed during the tornado. The SBA also offers an Individual Assistance program that supplies qualified homeowners with funding to make emergency repairs to an existing home or cash for emergency supplies. For small businesses, SBA offers two types of loan assistance in relation to disasters, Mazanec said. The SBA's Physical Disaster Loans offer businesses of all sizes and types up to $2 million for repairs and replacement of real estate, equipment, inventory or fixtures that were not insured or were under-insured. Economic Injury Disaster Loans offer small businesses and non-profit organizations loans of as much as $2 million to cover expenses the business or non-profit would have been able to meet had the disaster not occurred. He also said small business owners need to make certain they have gathered as much financial information for their business as possible, and have identified their losses, to prepare for the application process. "Small businesses' financial information may not have been kept in the most secure places," Mazanec said. "It may be damaged or have blown away. One thing [FEMA and the SBA] has told us is to advise members to start gathering what they can. They know it's a process." Referring to the small business community in the Merrick section as "a nice little melting pot," Mazanec said he understands owners concerns about how their businesses may recover if the neighborhood changes due to housing issues. "If you have a Russian business, that Russian community matriculates to that business," he said. {they are inter-supportive in that respect." Mazanec said any small business in the tornado-affected area is welcome to contact the WRC for help as they try to rebuild and recover, "We're telling people they can reach out to us. We have services," Mazanec said. The WRC chamber can be contacted by calling 426-3880 or by e-mail at info@ourwrc.com". Debbie Gardner can be reached by e-mail at debbieg@thereminder.com