A shopper looking for stylish clothing options on Kirkwood may have noticed that one Bloomington competitor, first opened in 1995, has been closed since early August.
An electrical fire in Pitaya clothing store that occurred on Aug. 8 destroyed part of the interior of the store and the entire inventory, causing the store to temporarily close. After months of remodeling, Pitaya is ready to take on new customers.
It will reopen Friday at its original location on Kirkwood Avenue between Grant and Dunn streets.
Katia Kamra, a Pitaya manager, said she was working on Aug. 8 when the fire began. She said she was helping a “rush” of customers in the store, and at 8:30 p.m., something peculiar happened.
“All of a sudden I heard popping noises that sounded like popcorn,” Kamra said. “I looked toward the back room and I saw sparks – thank God the back door was closed.”
Kamra said once the source of the popping noise was identified – the
electrical fuse box – she went straight for the fire extinguisher. Her co-worker told her they needed to help the customers first, so both of them helped evacuate all the people from the store.
She said she called 911, and a police officer on a motorcycle, two ambulances and fire trucks arrived at the scene. They then extinguished the fire.
“We were in there two hours after it happened,” Kamra said. “I could see the damage but it was so dark outside, there are little things that you don’t recognize that could be damaged.”
Michael Mazor, owner of Pitaya, said the actual fire destroyed the back wall and back door, but the smoke did more harm – it damaged the ceiling tiles, AC/AV ducts and all the inventory.
Mazor said although there was a large revenue loss and upward of $60,000 in damages to the store, he thought it happened at a good time.
“I thought this would be the opportune time to renovate,” Mazor said. “I’m trying to make this into a positive thing. I’m trying to make the best out of it. I’m excited to reopen.”
He said the remodeled store will be “totally fresh” with new everything – walls, ceilings, dressing rooms and entirely new inventory.
Mazor added that because the store has been closed, regular customers have been driving up to the store’s Indianapolis location to get their fashion fix.
IU junior Mauralynne Ford said she usually buys “going-out” clothing at Pitaya and was upset when she passed it on the street and saw that it was empty.
“I thought they were just remodeling,” Ford said. “I went to Cha Cha and Urban Outfitters instead.”
Ford said Pitaya is appealing because they offer stylish clothes at a cheaper price.
“When I shop there, I can buy more,” Ford said.
Kamra said the store was supposed to reopen on Sept. 29, but an attempt to get a building permit delayed the whole process.
She said it was unfortunate for Pitaya to be closed at such a crucial time, especially during the back-to-school season, but she gained something out of the incident.
“I learned more management skills than I thought I could,” Kamra said.
Mazor is confident his new store will have not only a new look, but also a new attitude.
“This is going to be like a brand new store,” Mazor said. “I think it will be the nicest store in town. It will have the best prices and the best service.”
Repaired from Aug. fire, Pitaya to reopen Friday
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