LAWRENCE, MASS. (WHDH) - A building that was home to a liquor store and bakery in Lawrence has been demolished after a raging fire burned through the structure on Essex Street Friday morning.
Sweeney’s Package Store and Sweet Grace Heavenly Cakes were both destroyed in a fire that crews tried to contain after arriving at the scene around 4 a.m.
At one point, witnesses saw the roof cave in and flames burst out from the building, with the back of the structure eventually collapsing.
According to Lawrence Fire Chief Brian Moriarty, fighting the fire was especially difficult because there were no sprinklers in the liquor store.
“We had pretty heavy smoke conditions in not only the cake factory, but the package store behind us,” Moriarty said. “As it turns out, we think the majority of the fire was in the package store, but it’s just that the alarms in the cake factory are what notified us.”
He noted that a fire wall as well as fire crew protection lines kept the flames limited to the two businesses.
Officials say no injuries were reported, but the building was a total loss. Demolition crews could be seen tearing down what was left of the structure throughout Friday afternoon.
The owner of Sweet Grace Heavenly Cakes spoke with 7NEWS on scene, emotional from the loss of her business.
“You want to go in there and try to stop the fire,” said Danaris Mazara. “I feel very sorry for our customers this week, for their parties. It’s very difficult for them and for us.”
Even as the smoke clears, all eyes are on rebuilding. State Rep. Francisco Paulino was on scene and says he will be there every step of the way.
“The building will need to be rebuilt, they will come back stronger,” Paulino said. “We are a strong community, we support business owners. We are going to help them come to back.”
“We are Lawrence and we know how to pass [through] difficult times,” Mazara said. “We are going to come back very strongly.”
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Both owners said they planned to rebuild following Friday’s fire, which officials estimate caused at least a million dollars’ worth of damage.
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