GLEN BURNIE, MD — It's been more than three weeks since the Empire Towers building in Glen Burnie was abruptly evacuated, leaving businesses scrambling to make up for the loss of equipment and office space after it was deemed at risk of collapsing.
Public access to the 10-story building remains blocked by a 150-foot safety perimeter that's anticipated to stay in place for months.
Patch spoke with Shelby Benard, the owner of Elysium Wax Esthetics, to see how the fallout of the Empire Towers closure impacted her business.
Like other tenants, Benard lost access to everything she needed to keep her business running. Items ranged from waxing equipment and tables to snack carts for customers.
Making matters worse, the closure came during a peak period. "This is the season for my business," Benard said.
The loss prompted her to launch an Amazon registry and a GoFundMe initiative to help rebuild Elysium Esthetics.
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She told Patch that customers have been understanding over the last few weeks, especially as she's worked to reestablish herself at a temporary location.
For the time being, Elysium Wax Esthetics is operating from Linthicum Heights, at 1190 Winterson Road. The site is about 15 minutes from Empire Towers.
The latest updates from officials outline a lengthy two-phase recovery process for Empire Towers that includes a licensed structural engineering team and routine county inspections.
But as work to bring the building back to code inches forward, one big question is emerging: Will business in the area return to what it once was?
One resident who works just outside the safety perimeter told Patch that safety concerns have caused a sharp decline in sales at her workplace since July 9, when officials first established the safety perimeter and declared the building unsafe.
For Benard, it's understandable why people would steer away from the building — even after the repairs are complete.
"I think, in people's minds, the building will still be tainted from this," she said. "People are scared to — they'll be nervous or they'll have second thoughts about going into the building."
"I would be nervous a little bit as well, just because it would be so fresh," she added.
For a business that demands safety and trust, Benard said her ability to provide that sense for clients is pivotal. "I want my clients to feel safe. That's a big thing in my business," she said.
The county's most recent update notes the first phase of repair work got underway on Wednesday and will last up to 14 days.
The first half of the work will include installing vertical shoring on the lowest level of the underground garage, where construction work previously compromised the building.
No timeline has been given for the second phase that involves installing lateral supports to stabilize the building.
The safety perimeter will remain in place until the building is stabilized.
Residents can find updates on the county's response to the Empire Towers incident online.
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