A beloved Longmeadow-based grocery store that’s been under reconstruction since a fire burnt the business down in November 2021 will not be coming back to its home at the Shaker Road Plaza.
“While this decision was not reached lightly, given the high rebuilding costs and lengthy timeline, we believe it is in our best interest to not pursue this endeavor,” Alexis Vallides, owner of Armata’s Market, said in the statement posted to the store’s Facebook.
“We would like to thank everyone for all the continued support we received since the moment the fire began,” Vallides continued. “This Longmeadow Community is special and we will always carry with us all the wonderful memories at our first home on Shaker Road.”
On Nov. 23, 2021, a fire originating in the wide-open attic space above the Shaker Road strip plaza destroyed neighboring businesses: Armata’s, the Bottle Shop package store, Iron Chef Chinese Restaurant, a hair salon and a nail salon.
With an estimated $5 million in damage, the fire was the largest in Longmeadow history. The four-alarm fire also left more than 70 employees out of work on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving.
Since the fire, Armata’s found ways to fill the gaps in business left empty by the devastation of its store. In the days after the fire, the staff rallied to follow through on the market’s Thanksgiving food orders, delivering more than 100 cooked meals cooked offsite.
“No one expected us to do this today. And that’s why we’re doing it,” owner and manager Alexis Vallides said the day before Thanksgiving. “We want to come through for everybody and show them what Armata’s is all about.”
- Read more: Longmeadow fire: Customers shocked and saddened by loss of Armata’s Plaza from Tuesday morning blaze
The business retained about 15 employees after the fire and continued serving meals-to-go and catering from a rented kitchen at the former Longmeadow senior center.
It has also posted video cooking demonstrations and recipes on Facebook to keep in contact with customers, and in September took ownership of Hampden’s Village Food Mart.
“This is so sad, but not totally unexpected. As a former employee it was truly one of the best PT jobs I held,” one person commented on Armata’s Facebook post. “Loved the store as both employee and customer! Will be missed by so many.”
The owners of the Maple Center Shopping Plaza, home to Armata’s Market, submitted designs to rebuild the property to the Longmeadow Planning Board by Capital Studio Architects, of East Hartford in November 2022.
The plaza’s landlord, Westfield-based Pun Longmeadow Realty, was proposing to rebuild and renovate the building with a new design and upgrade to the adjacent parking lot. Documents submitted to the Longmeadow Planning Board showed a fresh look for the key shopping center.
After buying the Hampden market, Vallides pledged that Armata’s was planning to return to Longmeadow. The Village Food Mart would be a second store that would keep its name and staff, she said, but would add some homemade baked goods, prepared meals and other products found at Armata’s.
“Sad to hear this news but I wish nothing but the best to these remarkable people I’ve been lucky to know personally,” another former employee commented. “I can honestly say it was the best growing experience for me; the people are amazing and I couldn’t have asked for a better boss. Sending love and light to these remarkable people and wishing the best always to them!”
MassLive reporter Will Katcher contributed to the reporting of this story.
