Cafe, Liquor Store Reopen After Fire Marshal Shut Down Thompson Plaza

EAST HAVEN, CT —Earlier this month, a Foxon Road shopping plaza was ordered vacated and shuttered by East Haven Fire Marshal Charles Miller because its owner, David Koskerides of Norwalk, refused to fix fire protection systems.

Tuesday, according to East Haven Fire Department Chief Matthew Marcarelli, a fire protection contractor completed repairs to the sprinkler system and fire alarm system.

"Once the systems were tested, the fire marshal authorized the re-opening of the liquor store and the diner," Marcarelli said.

The 665 Foxon Road shopping center is home to East Haven Discount Wine & Liquor and Route 80 Café. It was shut down June 2.

Marcarelli said that while "some fire code issues that are still in the abatement process remain, they are not as serious as the fire protection systems and are not in the impacted businesses.

"We are finally reopened for business," the package store posted on Facebook. "Thank you for your support!"

Marcarelli said the café will open Wednesday and the liquor store opened immediately.

What led to the shutdown of the shopping plaza?

The owner had refused to fix both the sprinkler and fire alarm systems, found to be broken in an inspection in May.

Fire Marshal Miller said that the May 19 inspection found that both the sprinkler and fire alarm systems were not functioning and that the conditions had been present since the last inspection. And, he added that there are "other violations but the sprinkler system and fire alarm system are deemed serious."

Numerous attempts to contact or ensure corrections were made to the building by its owner David Koskerides of Norwalk were unsuccessful, fire officials said.

"Even after letters of violation to the Connecticut Fire Safety & Prevention Code and a formal abatement process were started, contact with Mr. Koskerides was either limited or none at all. To date no corrections to the fire protection systems have been made," a news release from East Haven Fire Department Chief Matthew Marcarelli reads.

Thursday, a sheriff served Koskerides a Notice of Fire Code Violation that gave a four-hour timeline to commence work, Marcarelli said.

"Since that time there has been no attempts by Mr. Koskerides or his representatives to contact the Fire Marshal," he said.

Patch was told by officials that Miller is "sympathetic" to the building occupants and their customers, but Koskerides has refused to be responsible for a fire watch during business hours, which is required under the Connecticut Fire Safety & Prevention Code.

“My responsibility is to ensure that the occupants and visitors are safe, unfortunately in this case, the business occupants are at the mercy of their landlord who at this point has been uncooperative," Miller said. "Business owners were notified so that they could plan for the weekend because it does not appear that immediate action will be taken by the building owner. As soon as the violations are corrected and inspected, they will likely be able to resume business."