BRISTOL, Conn. — A massive early morning fire ripped through Mafales Plaza on Main Street in Bristol, leaving at least four businesses completely destroyed as crews work to comb for clues.
"I walked up and my heart sank when I saw this," said Jeff Caggiano, Mayor of Bristol.
The fire was reported just after 1 a.m. Thursday. Fire officials said the flames were so intense, part of the roof of the plaza caved in.
Hours after the fire broke out, fire crews were still putting out hot spots and piling some of the charred debris. Of the impacted locally owned businesses is the beloved Crystal Diner and Vivaldi's Pizza which were staples of the community.
"You could see the man behind the counter cooking was related to the person waiting on tables and at Vivaldi's, they appear to be family-owned as well, that’s where we got our pizza," said Tyrone Mellon, a Bristol resident.
Also in the plaza is a package store, a laundromat and a dance studio which are all damaged.
"There are no chains in the plaza, there’s no big corporation behind them," said Mellon.
"I think a lot of people will feel the pain and loss of this building just like I do," said Mayor Caggiano.
He says the town plans to help these businesses get back on their feet. "There’s a ripple effect of people that will be affected in town, not only is it tough on the owners but also the workers and just the town as a whole."
No businesses were open when the fire broke out and luckily no injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is still under investigation
Lindsey Kane is a reporter at FOX61 News. She can be reached at Lkane@fox61.com. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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