PITTSTON, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A popular Italian meat and specialty market is open again after being closed for nearly three months. A massive fire next door to the shop forced them to close its doors just days before Christmas.
“We went out to the front door, and we saw the flames and the smoke. We walked in to gather our belongings and then the police chief came in and said ‘Get out, get out.’ We had 30 seconds to get out of here,” Sabatelle’s Market co-owner Jane Sabatelle explained.
On December 23, Sabatelle’s Market on South Main Street in Pittston had to close due to a massive fire at the Ann Lee Frocks building, just three feet away from their family-owned business.
Jane and her son Jason were in the building when it sparked.
“We kind of had to resign ourselves to whatever happens, but they had a wonderful ladder truck up the front, and they kept that water between the two buildings to save our building,” Jane continued.
Sabatelle’s was spared from catching fire but not from any damage.
“So many people were dependent on us for the holiday, and there was nothing we could do cause the whole place was filled with smoke, and then the water started to come in,” Sabatelle’s Market co-owner Jason Sabatelle stated.
The damage from the smoke and water forced the shop to close on its busiest day of the year.
“It was just terrible. I was more concerned with the people that were having filets, filet minions, and rib roasts that were counting on us, and we couldn’t go back in our building,” Jason added.
After months of repairs, including cleaning, a ceiling replacement, and repainting, Sabatelle’s Market is reopening.
“Now it’s the Easter pizzas and the ricotta and all the goodies the nut and the poppyseed,” Jane added.
The Sabatelle’s say through it all, they are grateful for the support of their community.
“We’ve got such a great community here, and they wanna help out businesses like ours. I’ve been in business for 50 years, and it’s a good feeling to know that the community’s on your side. That’s awesome,” Jason said.
Pittston Mayor Michael Lombardo says crews are doing demolition on the Ann Lee Frocks building and cleaning out debris.
Since it is so close to Sabatelle’s, they are taking down the adjacent wall by hand. A decision on what to do with the building will be made soon.
He says the lot will not sit vacant, and there will be a new project there soon.
