Covering the Corridor
The Mount Vernon-Lee Chamber of Commerce's online fundraiser for businesses affected by last week's 6-alarm fire at Belle View Shopping Center has raised close to $4,000.
Last Monday just after midnight, local fire departments received reports of a fire at Belle View Shopping Center. Multiple businesses suffered fire, water or smoke damage and several remain closed. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but it appears to have started near the cleaners and an adjacent restaurant on the east side of the shopping center.
The Mount Vernon-Lee Chamber, along with the Belle View Merchants Association and community member Steve Larsen, created a Fundly page as an emergency relief fund for businesses and their employees, Covering the Corridor reported.
The goal is to raise $25,000 before the end of this year. Money from the fundraiser will be spent on financial hardships not covered by insurance, said Larsen, a longtime New Alexandria resident. A steering committee will work together to disburse the funds, Larsen said.
Several businesses expect to be closed for months or may never be able to reopen.
