Building owner: ‘Everything was in order’
Says new tenant was set to open barbershop
NORWALK — The fate of a Connecticut Avenue barbershop remains uncertain after it was gutted last weekend by a fire that investigators say could have been arson.
Manish Patel, who owns the building, said his new tenant, Victor Santiago, was set to open the barbershop this month after renting the space in October. The nearly 1,500squarefoot building was inspected the week before the fire,
Patel said.
“Everything was in order,” Patel said. “He was about to open it.”
Patel said he met Tuesday with insurance agents to determine the next steps for the building. Police and fire officials have cordoned off the property as they conduct an investigation.
“Once (insurance) gives me advice, I’ll proceed,” Patel said. “I have no idea what I need to do.”
The Patel family purchased the building under a limited liability company in 2005 for $420,000. The Patels ran Norwalk Wine & Spirits there before moving the package store a short distance up Connecticut Avenue where it remains in business.
The city of Norwalk last appraised the barbershop building at about $500,000, which the Patels appealed but did not appear for a hearing last April. The building, which was built in 1942, has since been listed for sale at $750,000.
The Norwalk Fire Department said the building is believed to be structurally sound, but the inside is completely lost.
No one was injured in the fire, which was reported by someone passing by who noticed smoke coming from the building around 1 a.m. Sunday.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
“Everything’s a possibility,” said David Burrows, an inspector for the Norwalk Fire Department.
Santiago could not be reached for comment.