Vallis IGA in Hamlyn Heights to reopen on March 20, five years after horror fire
A popular Hamlyn Heights supermarket will reopen later this month, five years after it was burnt to the ground by an arsonist.
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A popular Hamlyn Heights supermarket will reopen later this month, five years after it was burnt to the ground by an arsonist.
Vallis IGA on Vines Rd will open on March 20 after a $4.5m rebuild.
Co-owner Frank Valenti said staff and customers were excited for the doors to the supermarket to finally reopen.
“Excitement is starting to creep in but there’s still a lot to do,” he said.
“The community is hanging out for us to open and there has been a real buzz which has been the most motivating thing during the last five years.
“They’ve really spurred us on.”
Mr Valenti said he vividly remembers the morning of the fire on March 4, 2019.
“That day, Bert, who typically opened the store at 5am, was on holidays so I was opening the shop but I went in at 5.30am instead,” he said.
“I got a call from the security just after 5am saying the smoke detectors were going off, which was strange.”
When Mr Valenti arrived at the shop, a nearby neighbour had already called triple-0 and fire crews were battling the blaze.
“Half the shop was on fire (when I arrived) and I remember thinking we weren’t going to open for at least a month.
“Then all of a sudden, the rest of the shop went up it flames.”
More than 20 firefighters worked for several hours to bring the fire under control.
Then-30-year-old Zachary Brennan, who lived in Herne Hill, was charged and jailed for five years and three months after he lit a fire in a skip bin nearby using a cigarette lighter, which led to the supermarket burning down.
Mr Valenti said it was an “emotional” day but he kept thinking about the impact of the blaze on their customers.
“We had a group of elderly customers that would come to the store just to get out of the house, to buy the newspaper or some bananas,” he said.
“It was part of their lifestyle and they lost all of that.”
Mr Valenti’s parent, Sandra and Paul, bought the store on Vines Rd in 1978 and dedicated their life to serving their community.
He said it was important for his family to continue their legacy.
The family has been operating from a smaller store nearby since the fire.
Mr Valenti said there was “never any doubt” his family would rebuild the supermarket.
“There’s no way that we wouldn’t have rebuilt,” he said.
“We are driven by our customers, they are out motivation.”
The new store features a produce and bakery area, deli, large kitchen area and liquor store with offices and facilities for staff upstairs.
A variety of pies, pastries and quiches will be on offer as well as family-sized meals, roast meats and salads.
“We have a lot of plans but ultimately it’s up to what customers want and we will have the facilities to cater for that,” Mr Valenti said.
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Originally published as Vallis IGA in Hamlyn Heights to reopen on March 20, five years after horror fire
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