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Maple Center Shopping Plaza, once home of Armata’s, takes shape for fall reopening

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Maple Center Shopping Plaza, once home of Armata’s, takes shape for fall reopening

LONGMEADOW — Construction continues on a new Maple Center Shopping Plaza in Longmeadow replacing a strip mall — once home to Armata’s Market — destroyed by fire just before Thanksgiving 2021.

The plaza will be ready for occupancy by late fall, according to leasing agents at NAI Plotkin in Springfield.

The town building department said the plans call for five retail locations in the strip center that will fit the footprint of the old plaza at 899-925 Shaker Rd. Work began earlier this year.

Designs for the Maple Center Shopping Plaza, home to Armata’s Market, submitted to the Longmeadow Planning Board by Capital Studio Architects, of East Hartford.

Owners Pun Longmeadow Realty, a family company based in Southwick and Westfield, didn’t return calls for comment.

The 64-year-old plaza — which also had five businesses — was consumed just before Thanksgiving 2021 by a four-alarm fire. Inflicting $5 million in damage, firefighters said it was the most destructive fire in town history.

The Maple Center Shopping Plaza in Longmeadow, former home of Armata’s Market and other shops, is being rebuilt after a major fire in November 2021. (Don Treeger / The Republican) 6/26/2024

Armata’s Market will not return. The family instead bought Village Food Mart in Hampden in 2022.

Evan C. Plotkin, president and CEO of NAI Plotkin, said there isn’t much to announce, yet, about new tenants at the plaza.

“We’re just talking now.” “I think we’ll be successful in redeveloping that center.”

The owners are aiming for quality retailers, possibly a bank branch.

The old center, built in 1960, was successful for years, especially its liquor store. The center is located in the far southern end of affluent Longmeadow, near the borders with East Longmeadow and Enfield, Connecticut.

Yadira Quinones owned The Longmeadow Salon in the old plaza before the fire. She moved her business to share space with Roots to Ends salon in East Longmeadow, but lost customers in the process.

“It’s been very tough,” she said. “The area is saturated with salons.”

Firefighters clean up Armata’s Plaza in Longmeadow Tuesday evening, Nov. 23, 2021.(Hoang ‘Leon’ Nguyen / The Republican)

Firefighters battle a blaze that destroyed the Armata’s Plaza at 909 Shaker Road in Longmeadow. (Don Treeger / The Republican) 11/23/2021

Firefighters clean up Armata’s Plaza in Longmeadow after the three-alarm fire destroyed the businesses on Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021.(Hoang ‘Leon’ Nguyen / The Republican)

Firefighters clean up Armata’s Plaza in Longmeadow Tuesday evening, Nov. 23, 2021.(Hoang ‘Leon’ Nguyen / The Republican)

Longmeadow Fire Chief John Dearborn (center) talks with other first responders on the scene of a fire that destroyed the Armata’s Plaza at 909 Shaker Road in Longmeadow. (Don Treeger / The Republican) 11/23/2021

People gather across the street from the Armata’s Plaza in Longmeadow as firefighters battle a blaze that destroyed the plaza. (Don Treeger / The Republican) 11/23/2021

A rainbow froms in the mist as water is poured onto a blaze that destroyed the Armata’s Plaza at 909 Shaker Road in Longmeadow. (Don Treeger / The Republican) 11/23/2021

Firefighters battle a blaze that destroyed the Armata’s Plaza at 909 Shaker Road in Longmeadow. (Don Treeger / The Republican) 11/23/2021

The three-alarm fire left a total loss of six businesses at Armata’s Plaza in Longmeadow on Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021. (Hoang ‘Leon’ Nguyen / The Republican)

The three-alarm fire left a total loss of six businesses at Armata’s Plaza in Longmeadow on Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021. (Hoang ‘Leon’ Nguyen / The Republican)

Firefighters battle a blaze that destroyed the Armata’s Plaza at 909 Shaker Road in Longmeadow. (Don Treeger / The Republican) 11/23/2021

Firefighters on the scene of a fire that destroyed the Armata’s plaza at 909 Shaker Road in Longmeadow. (Don Treeger / The Republican) 11/23/2021

The three-alarm fire left a total loss of six businesses at Armata’s Plaza in Longmeadow on Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021. (Hoang ‘Leon’ Nguyen / The Republican)

Firefighters clean up Armata’s Plaza in Longmeadow after the three-alarm fire destroyed the businesses on Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021.(Hoang ‘Leon’ Nguyen / The Republican)

Firefighters clean up Armata’s Plaza in Longmeadow Tuesday evening, Nov. 23, 2021. The three-alarm fire left a total loss of six businesses. (Hoang ‘Leon’ Nguyen / The Republican)

Reflective coats make these Longmeadow firefighters stand out through the smoke while pouring water on a fire that destroyed the Armata’s shopping plaza at 909 Shaker Road in Longmeadow. (Don Treeger / The Republican) 11/23/2021

Firefighters work on a ladder while battling a fire that destroyed the Armata’s plaza at 909 Shaker Road in Longmeadow. (Don Treeger / The Republican) 11/23/2021

Fire at Longmeadow’s Armata’s Market Plaza on Nov. 23, 2021. Photo courtesy of Lindsay Desotell

Fire at Longmeadow’s Armata’s Market Plaza on Nov. 23, 2021. Photo courtesy of Lindsay Desotell

The three-alarm fire left a total loss of six businesses at Armata’s Plaza in Longmeadow on Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021. (Hoang ‘Leon’ Nguyen / The Republican)

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