MegaMall vendors remain united after devastating fire

O

n September 8, shortly after midnight, fire struck the Logan Square MegaMall at 2500 N. Milwaukee Ave. By the time the fire was extinguished three hours later, it had that destroyed one of the six connected buildings that make up the Mall.

While no one was injured, some of the MegaMall merchants have lost their life savings. In Building 4, which burned to the ground, 14 businesses lost all of their merchandise and equipment. But many other businesses lost merchandise to smoke and water damage.

The Chicago Police Department continues to investigate the cause of the fire. Fire Department officials turned over the investigation to the police based on evidence and witnesses that indicate the fire was not accidental.

The disaster came just as the vendors were rebuilding their businesses, recovering from the losses they sustained when the MegaMall was shut down for 18 months beginning in June 2005. (During the closure, LSNA assisted vendors in forming the MegaMall Merchants’ Committee.)

“These merchants make a major contribution to our community,” said Rev. Sandra Castillo, pastor of Iglesia Nuestra Señora de las Am

é

ricas and the Episcopal Church of the Advent, who also spoke at a rally organized by LSNA to support the merchants.

“They are hard-working, law-abiding citizens. They have created jobs and used the income they make here to become homeowners and send kids to college.”

Vendor Mariano Kon spoke on behalf of the Merchants’ Committee. “We are moving forward, one step at a time,” he said.

We’re calling for a thorough investigation of the fire. And we are creating an emergency fund to help our friends who lost everything” on September 8 (see page 2). Kon added that the Committee will strongly support an effort to renovate and reopen the mall.

A year ago,

Alderman Rey

Colón (35

th

) announced plans to have the City of Chicago take control of the mall through eminent domain – a move that mall owner Kyun Hee Park has consistently fought.

“The City’s approach to the future of the MegaMall should have the current merchants at its heart,” said Castillo. “They are stakeholders in the community and have a right to a place at the table.”