Tuesday, January 10, 2023

A look back at the devastating fire that destroyed Essex Card Shop 1 year ago today

One year ago today, a fire destroyed Essex Card Shop on Avenue A between Third Street and Fourth Street. 

Thankfully, there weren't any injuries, and the fire was contained to the shop located in the retail space of the Ageloff Towers.

However dire it looked while assessing the damage inside the storefront, owner Muhammad Aslam and his family vowed to return, and with the help of generous residents, were able to reopen on Sept. 6. 

Here, Aslam, and his daughter, Mehnaz Noreen, the retail sales manager, on reopening day...
On this anniversary day, the family expressed their thanks to the neighborhood for being able to return via a tweet from Muhammad's daughter Saba ...
EVG was the only media outlet to document the rebuild and return of Essex Card Shop. You can find the archive of the rebuild, as reported by EVG contributor Stacie Joy in 2022, right here.
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7 comments:

  1. ckJanuary 10, 2023 at 4:46 PM

    so what happened to the kid who started the fire?

    ReplyDelete
  2. SarahJanuary 10, 2023 at 5:16 PM

    Excellent neighborhood coverage, reflecting awareness of the value of a neighborhood institution. I hope their sales are recovering well.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Laura GogginJanuary 10, 2023 at 5:17 PM

    I am so happy Essex Card Shop was able to return and I hope they keep going for many years to come. They are family.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousJanuary 10, 2023 at 6:52 PM

    My apartment behind that smoke. It was devastating for alot more people then just the Essex card shop.

    ReplyDelete
  5. EVQPJanuary 10, 2023 at 6:55 PM

    Thank you, Grieve, as always, for your ever important and valuable coverage of our neighborhood - the good, the bad, and the ugly, and the beautiful! Thanks for keeping us up to date over the past year.

    It's so good to know that this mainstay was able to recover and reopen. Wishing them all the best going forward.

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousJanuary 10, 2023 at 7:04 PM

    The alleged child who allegedly started the fire - let's be accurate - why did the "child" start the fire, how old is the "child", where is the "child" now -simple questions that can be answered without an identification? Do you understand the East Village dodged a bullet.

    ReplyDelete
  7. GrieveJanuary 10, 2023 at 7:55 PM

    A judge sealed the records regarding the minor who allegedly started the fire.

    ReplyDelete

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