Amherst Plaza Finally Taken Down

A local business plaza decimated by fire four years ago is now on its way to being reborn.

Charles River Realty began the demolition of the old buildings in the Amherst Plaza last week, which will be .

This includes a 17,1000 square foot Goodwill store, which will share the plaza with a small bank and a retail business. The space is located at 131 Route 101A, between Dunkin Donuts and Carriage Depot.

A four-alarm fire in June, 2008 ignited the dozen businesses that used to call the Amherst Plaza home. These included A&E Custom Coffee Roastery, Amherst House of Pizza, Dollar Wise and Lotus Nails.

Amherst planning director Sarah Marchant said that the construction of these buildings should start "pretty soon."