Two Puerto Rican businesses destroyed by fire, working to recover

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama (AS TO) – A Huntsville businesswoman lost two of her businesses and her home in an early morning fire last Saturday.

No one was injured in the blaze, but the two businesses – Sabor Boricua and Mi Encanto – and his home are in ruins after firefighters spent several hours extinguishing the flames.

The owner’s daughter, Arelis Rodriguez, started a GoFundMe.

“We’re just going to take it day by day…month by month…and do what we can,” Rodriguez said. “Economically, I don’t want them to feel like they have to immediately go back to work tomorrow or pay their bills tomorrow.”

Rodriguez says her mother is still in shock and working to process what’s left of her home and business.

News 19 took a look inside at the damage caused by that fire.

“My mother was sleeping. One of his employees who lived there kicked him out,” Rodriguez added. “They said it was all black – they couldn’t see at that time when they woke up and they grabbed her to pull her out because she was just trying to see if there was anything wrong. she could do to stop it.”

Although no one was injured in the fire, personal effects were destroyed.

Rodriguez says his mother has been in this building for 15 years. Mi Encanto, a beauty salon her mother owned, was linked to Sabor Boricua. She opened the boutique in 2009 and Sabor Boricua in 2019. She lived above the building alongside three of her employees.

“One of them woke up – he kept coughing and he didn’t know why,” Rodriguez said. “He kept drinking water to see if it would clear his throat. When he looked around he said everything was just dark. There was smoke, and he said there were flames – especially in his bedroom where the fire was strongest.

Rodriguez says his mother loves to cook and enjoys serving members of the community.

It’s something she says her mom would love to do again, but for now…the family takes it day by day.

“She’s at my house and we’re going to try to make sure we set her up to make her feel a little more like home,” Rodriguez concluded. “She used to wake up every morning and come downstairs to open a shop… I think she misses that routine. It’s really hard for her. »

Huntsville Fire & Rescue is still investigating the cause of the fire. Check out the full story this weekend on our News 19 newsletters.