Worcester Business Journal

10 Worcester Business Journal | November 25, 2019 | wbjournal.com In July, five Natick businesses were lost to a fire. ree are now back on their feet. Recovering from disaster BY GRANT WELKER Worcester Business Journal News Editor W hen Jill Hourihan heard of a fire in July at the down- town Natick build- ing where her dog grooming service was based, she made the heartbreaking decision to watch. "e day of the fire, I knew that letting go of that building was the only thing I could do that day," Hourihan said. "ere was nothing else to do." Now, nearly exactly four months later, Hourihan is about to move on officially. She's found a new home for Metro Pets Natick about two blocks away at 28 Washington St. Metro Pets Natick, which was located in the basement at the building at the west edge of Natick Common, is the latest business to get back into operation aer the eight-alarm fire destroyed the entire block of businesses. Also lost in the fire was Nancy Kelley Dance Studio, the knitting supply store Iron Horse, the Christian Science Read- ing Room and the Chinese restaurant King Wok. e list would be longer if not for another tenant, Robjets D'Art relocating down South Main Street just beforehand, and two others, the vintage store Second Chances and Natick Cen- ter Graphics, having recently closed. Help from the community, state e overnight fire was devastating to Natick, but the community was generous in helping those affected, said Athena Pandolf, the executive director of the Natick Center Cultural District, which supports arts and culture in the neighborhood and has pitched into help businesses get back on their feet. Contributions have exceeded $36,000 to help businesses find new locations and to make ends meet in the meantime. "Natick is known for its community," Pandolf said. "I get a lot of people who come to me from outside Natick who are fascinated and drawn to Natick for the support people give to one another. "It's been very difficult for them," she added, "and it's something none of us have dealt with before." e state has pitched in, too. In August, the Gov. Charlie Baker Administration offered $400,000 to help businesses affected by the fire reopen, with loans of $5,000 to $50,000 available. e Massachusetts Department of Reve- The building at the edge of Natick Common was completely destroyed in the overnight fire. PHOTOS/ALAN JUNG Julie Hourihan is the latest Natick business owner to reopen after the devastating July fire, which put at least one company out of business and jeopardized four others.

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