After a fire brought destruction to four Gulfport businesses in a strip mall, two stores are suing the one responsible.
Fazio’s Pizza and Subs and Gulfport Florist are suing the plaza owners, Glaxo International, and the company responsible for the fire, Enhanced Environmental. Enhanced Environmental owns Sunrise Laundromat. Glaxo International owns Suncoast Food Store, located in the plaza.
On April 21, a fire broke out in the water heater room of the laundromat, according to the Fire Investigation Report.
The suit, filed on Oct. 27, claims many towels were left lying near the water heater and that a laundromat employee called the owners of the plaza before contacting emergency services.
The firewall that separated Fazio’s wasn’t completed, allowing the fire to spread into the store.
After the fire, Glaxo hired a contractor to fix the roof. The contractor left the roof uncovered. A heavy rainstorm occurred, creating water damage throughout the pizza and florist shops. Glaxo is vicariously liable for the water damage.
Glaxo later paid to repair and upgrade its food store and the laundromat but failed to improve the other two stores in its plaza.
Gulfport Florist reopened days after the incident; however, Fazio’s remains closed.
The plaza is on 58th Street South in Gulfport.
In a Fox News 13 report on the incident, many residents of the area pitched in to help the shops get back on their feet.
A GoFundMe page was set up to help the family-run pizza shop pay for repair costs.
