Robert Lalah, Staff Reporter
Milade Azan (left), owner of Azan's Supercentre in Cross Roads, St. Andrew, speaks on his cellphone, while employees try to salvage what they could, after a fire had destroyed sections of the building on Saturday. - RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
AZAN'S SUPERCENTRE, a signature merchandise store in the Cross Roads area, St. Andrew, was partially damaged by fire late Saturday night.
According to owner Milade Azan, "Every piece of merchandise in the huge two-storey building was either burnt to ashes or damaged by smoke and water."
The fire which reportedly began at 9:30 p.m. started on the ground floor which housed figurines and toys, but smoke from the intense flames quickly reached the top floor, damaging the household items there as well.
A security guard reported that the electricity was flickering at that time and within minutes, he saw smoke coming from inside the building.
Firemen arrived on the scene quickly and managed to prevent the flames from spreading to the top floor.
Azan's Supercentre, located on Old Hope Road, was once the home of the Regal Cinema which stood there for over 40 years.
MILLIONS LOST
The value of the goods lost in yesterday's fire was still unclear at press time, but Mr. Azan said it was "several millions"'.
Despite the huge loss, Mr. Azan was extremely upbeat. The store provides employment to more than 100 persons and by 8 o'clock yesterday morning, nearly all of them were there helping to clean up.
"This is so heartening. My staff members are so loyal. This is what keeps me going," Mr. Azan said.
The employees, some wearing gloves and dust masks, were busy in the burnt-out building, trying to clear the debris. But not all of them were from that store. Mr. Azan operates similar stores in Linstead, St. Catherine and downtown Kingston. He said several employees from these stores were among those helping in the clean-up.
But shed no tear for Mr. Azan. He declared that because his employees have shown such loyalty, he will have the business place up and running in 14 days.
"It will be completely stocked with all new items. Nothing that was in the building during the fire will be sold."
The building and all its contents are insured.
