Chamber Looking For New Homes For Businesses Destroyed in Fire

left a gaping hole in the middle of West End and the Long Branch Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to filling it.

The Hair Club, The Wave Boutique, the Dance Studio, Hair Club, Paradise Gift Shop, Universal Graphics and Sacred Circle are among the businesses that were damaged or destroyed by Monday's fire.

Other businesses such as and were without power and gas on Tuesday and were forced to close, before reopening today and tomorrow.

The ones that only lost utilities were fortunate, but the other businesses will now be looking to rebuild or relocate.

The Long Branch Chamber of Commerce said it is currently working on a list of commercial space available in West End to get the businesses up and running.

Chamber President Esther Cohen, who also owns Cedars and Beeches Bed & Breakfast Inn in Long Branch, said she is optimistic for the business owners who lost everything.

"We're going to do what we can to get these businesses back on their feet," Cohen said.

Cohen said the chamber is going to have a meeting with local businesses to survey what storefronts are still available

"From what we've seen, there is a bunch of availability and we hope to get these businesses up and running," she said.

Cohen said she is hopeful the businesses had the proper insurance to cover their losses, but that even if they do, it will be lengthy process before they are reimbursed.

She said the chamber is co-sponsoring a building and financing program on Feb. 24 at Brookdale's Long Branch campus and that the businesses could benefit from attending.

"It could be good for them so they can try to get something to tide them over until the insurance pays out," Cohen said. "Perhaps they could broker a short-term loan."

The chamber has also outlined a way for people to help the families that were affected.

A release from the chamber states that people who wish to donate gift cards, checks and cash can drop them off at Central Jersey Bank, 627 Second Ave., marked "Attention Carol Feldman." Checks can be made out to the West End Fire Relief Fund.

Household items for the victims can be dropped off at the West End Fire House on Second Avenue between 2 and 5 p.m.