Life After the Fenway Fire
Steve Rohas of Greek Isles.
We believe in fighting for our rights… especially our right to eat. And when a four-alarm fire tore through a Fenway restaurant complex in early January, a little piece of our heart (and stomach) went with it. What will we do without tostadas and horchatas from El Pelon?
On Monday night, we marched down to Church for a post-fire update with city officials and restaurant and building owners to find out the recovery plans. In its glory days, the block was a slice of heaven for students, neighborhood regulars, and post-Sox grub-seekers, and the, “restaurants were like their living rooms,” Fenway Community Development Corp. board member, Steve Wolf says.The house was packed with residents both young and old and college students to voice their opinions on what should happen to the Peterborough St. strip. Also present were representatives from the Mayor’s office, the Sox, Fenway Community Health, and the McKinley Elementary school.
Restaurant owners made it clear they want to be back in business in their old, familiar spots, and block owner Monty Gold advised that he will not sell the property or put in a chain.
“This community came together unlike any other community in a unique way,” City Council President Mike Ross said. “The people of the Fenway know that it’s about the small businesses and shops that have made this neighborhood special.”
The restaurants hope to be up and running again around the 2010 baseball season.
– ALI NIGRO
