The West Long Branch, New Jersey, location of Jesus Book and Gift Store has been temporarily condemned after a strip mall fire Oct. 31. Owner Joe Catalano said the store will reopen in two to three months after it sustained severe soot and smoke damage.

For now, staff from the closed store will work at the location in Green Brook, New Jersey. The undamaged West Long Branch merchandise also has been transferred to the main store.

The fire started in a nail salon, about four stores down from Jesus Book and Gift. Though the salon was the only store to catch on fire, smoke and soot spread to the other stores in the strip mall, according to Catalano. The firemen evacuated everyone from the building safely and eventually lifted ceiling tiles and punched holes in the roof for ventilation.

Before the store can reopen, all ceiling tiles, a significant portion of the roof and possibly the Sheetrock must be replaced. Additionally, many of the new renovations made within the last year have been lost.

Thankfully, Catalano said insurance will cover both the repairs and payroll expenses. His main concern is simply losing awareness in the community.

“Honestly, my biggest concern is that people will forget about us if we’re out for three to four months,” Catalano said. “We need to have some sort of game plan to keep our name out there.”

Catalano said the timetable for reopening depends on some unknown variables.

“Now they’re trying to figure out if they need to take the Sheetrock off the walls,” Catalano said. Based on that, he said, it’s “January at best, March at worst for the return date.”

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