South End businesses still recovering

Date: 6/22/2011

June 22, 2011

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor

SPRINGFIELD — While some businesses in the city's South End have re-opened, a count of boarded up buildings shows there is still much work to be done before the entire neighborhood is once again open for business.

Along Main Street last week, Mom and Rico's, Dave's Furniture, City Vacuum, Milano's Market, Boston Seafood B&D Bakery and Buckeye Brother's Smoke Shop were among the businesses still closed.

Some businesses have moved from their closed locations such as LJ Barbers, Bel-Mar Insurance, Linda Nails, and Meche's Beauty & Spa.

The greatest amount of tornado damage is in the area along Main Street from Union to Central streets, although not all of the businesses there were affected equally. Walking down Main Street allows vistas one didn't see before due to extensive tree damage. The flagpole with the Italian flag at the site of the statue of former State. Rep. Anthony Scibelli survived the storm, although it is now at an angle.

La Fiorentina Bakery is open, minus some of its façade, and Zonin's Market behind the bakery only closed for several days, according to Leanna Danielle who works there.

She explained the market was only closed because a mandatory gas shut-off. Since re-opening, business has been "really good," she said.

Although the area had been cordoned off by law enforcement officials, Danielle said state police and National Guard troops would allow customers to walk to the market from the Central Street side of Main Street to shop there.

Brent Bertelli, owner of Lagone's Florists, said his building had damage to the roof, signs and awnings, but he was able to re-open quickly after the tornado.

Bertelli expressed concerns about the now large vacant lot created with the demolition of buildings at the corner of Main and Union streets. He said the multi-story brick buildings were architecturally some of the best in the neighborhood.

He would like to see a new building house professional offices and specialty stories to "bring back the South End from when I was a kid."

He would hate to see the lot remain vacant, but he doesn't want a chain store moving into the spot such as a CVS or a Walgreens.

One business planning to rebuild in the South End is Square One. Joan Kagan, the pre-school's president and chief executive officer, told Reminder Publications school staff are in the process of discussing long term plans and re-building in the South End is a priority. The school, which was formerly Springfield Day Nursery, has been in the neighborhood for 128 years and "there is a strong feeling to continue the legacy there."