Crime & Safety

Businesses Rebuild After Mystery Fire

Four businesses still closed three weeks after large fire, the cause of which is still undetermined but has been ruled non-criminal.

It's been three weeks since a fire engulfed the American Samurai Jiu-Jitsu Center and caused smoke and water damage at each business in the Northgate Plaza in Mt. Sinai. Four of the stores are still closed, while others were able to reopen after about a week.

The fire began the night of May 23 in the Jiu-Jitsu Center, and the Mt. Sinai and Terryville Fire Departments responded to contain the fire to the one store. Fortunately there were no injuries and no animals from the animal hospital next door were harmed in the fire, which was recently ruled non-criminal by Suffolk Police. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Bagels Your Way Cafe was closed for nine days after the fire. The store had to install a new ceiling, and even three weeks later there was still a faint smell of smoke.

"The whole building was affected," said owner Mike Burridge. "Everybody got smoke and soot for the most part. The Fire department did a good job containing it but naturally smoke got everywhere."

The bagel store was one of just four businesses able to open as of June 12, which also included the Northside Deli located on the east end of the building.

"The damage here was minimal," deli owner Peter McDermott said. "We were very fortunate."

MetLife Insurance and the Tailored Male II Barber Shop were the only ones open along with the bagel store and deli. T-Mobile, Mt. Sinai Animal Hospital and Just You and Eye Opticians remained closed along with the heavily damaged karate place. 

"It definitely put a damper on income," Burridge said. "I was able to at least present a new look in my store in the time I had to be closed, it was kind of a forced renovation. It was tough, but we have to keep going."


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.