A fire that hit H Mart Wholesale on Middle Road in Gualo Rai at 2:55pm Saturday was only placed under control at 10am yesterday -about 19 hours later, making it the lengthiest structure blaze in the CNMI in the last two decades.
When Saipan Tribune left the scene at 3:10pm yesterday, the building was still belching out black smoke as firefighters continued spraying water into the center portion of the building.
Police officer Eric David, the unified command public information officer, said their preliminary investigation showed that electrical wiring was the possible cause of fire, and that no one was reported injured.
“Based on my experience this is the longest structure fire so far we have,” said David, who has been with the Department of Public Safety for 19 years.
Kwon Yong-Bum, one of the owners of H Mart, flew to Saipan from South Korea yesterday morning after one of their managers informed him of the blaze.
Saipan Tribune spotted Kwon arriving at the scene at 2:50pm accompanied by two H Mart Saipan managers. After observing firefighters for a few minutes, the group left.
Kwon, who is director of Heechang Group based in South Korea, said it was an unfortunate incident but that they are still happy that their employees are safe and that nobody else was injured.
He said they will need more time to rebuild the store so they will just look for another building to lease. “Almost all hotels here are our customers,” he added.
Witnesses said the fire started in the accounting office on the second floor of the building.
An H-Mart control manager said only three of the eight employees were inside the building when the fire broke out.
The manager said that one of the employees immediately called 911 after they noticed smoke coming out from the accounting office. The employees then ran outside the building.
Firefighters immediately doused the building with water but the fire quickly spread. Some explosions, believed to be triggered by cans of butane gas, were heard.
With thick smoke blanketing the vicinity of the highway, traffic officers rerouted the traffic flow at the intersection of Quarter Master Road and near Coastal Resources Management Office and Safety First office.
At the scene were two tankers, two fire trucks, and one forestry fire truck.
Firefighters prevented the blaze from jumping to the adjacent three-story commercial building occupied by Diamond Auto Parts, Korea Hardware, BBQ World, and Chong Hair Salon.
Firefighters were also able to stop the blaze from crawling to a tin house at the back of the building. The family occupying the house was safely evacuated with the assistance of the American Red Cross.
A brief drizzle past 9pm Saturday did not stop the fire from engulfing the interior of the building.
David said it took awhile for firefighters to control the blaze because they learned from the H Mart manager that a lot of butane containers were in the building.
The pressure at two nearby fire hydrants was also very low so tankers had to leave to reload their water supply, he said. When the tankers return, David said, the blaze would already be spreading again. He said it took time for the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. to reroute the water flow in order to utilize the two available fire hydrants at the scene.
The second floor of the building, he added, was also confined by shutters, making it hard for the water to get inside the building. The concrete ceiling of the building had already collapsed.
David said they had to close the highway until investigators deemed it safe to reopen the road. He said debris flying out into the highway caused by the explosions posed a danger to motorists.
“The closure of the highway is for the safety of motorists,” David said.
The closure prompted many nearby establishments to close until yesterday, including the Hailan Market and Oriental Dumpling Restaurant. X.O. Market, located in front of H Mart, continued normal operations.
David said the rain on Saturday night and a drizzle yesterday morning did not help stop the fire.
The Commonwealth Ports Authority provided assistance by refilling the firefighters' oxygen tanks.
Kwon said when he first received a call about the fire, he was worried about their employees' safety because many have been with the company for over 10 years already.
“The building is all gone. That's okay as long as no one got hurt,” Kwon said.
He thanked firefighters, police officers, and other personnel from different agencies who assisted in killing the blaze and helped the affected families.
H Mart has over 40 stores in the U.S. mainland and five others in Canada.
H Mart has been operating on Saipan for 12 years now. It closed down its retail operation and concentrated on wholesale a few years ago due to the bad economy.
H Mart is short for “Han Ah Reum,” which in Korean means “One Arm Full of Groceries.” It is an Asian-inspired supermarket that started in 1982 in Queens, New York.
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Samsung Galaxy S3 ROM leaks, S-Voice et al up for download - Crave
The Samsung Galaxy S3 doesn't go on sale until 30 May -- or 29 May if you head down to the Samsung store in London's Westfield shopping centre in Stratford -- but here's how to get a taste of it right now.
The full ROM has leaked over at Android Police. So if you have a rooted Android phone running Ice Cream Sandwich, you can download the S3's version of Touchwiz. That'll bring all the extras like S-Voice (Samsung's Siri-style voice activated personal assistant), Pop-up Play, and Smart Stay to your handset. Handy if you want a taste of what to expect before you buy.
It's a hefty 800MB download, so be prepared to wait a while if you do want it. And seeing as it isn't an official release, you download at your own risk, so please don't hold us responsible if anything goes awry. S-Voice is also available as a separate download, if you want to see what all the fuss is about. Pop-up Play lets you watch video in a shrunken window floating on top of the browser, while Smart Stay detects when you're looking at it, and keeps the screen on until you look away. So no more prodding to wake it up. They're all nifty features, and all seemed impressive in our hands-on.
The S3 is the biggest phone to launch this year (not literally, though it is pretty large, with a 4.8-inch screen). It features a pebble-like design, and runs Ice Cream Sandwich. If you are considering splashing out, check out our handy guide to the prices. And have a look at the video below to see it in action. Accessories are also available, including a C-Pen stylus and Flip Cover.
Will you be picking up the S3? Or downloading the ROM? Let me know how you get on in the comments below, or on our Facebook page.
Divaris to handle leasing at Marquis - Vancouver Business Journal
Gerald S. Divaris, chairman and CEO of Divaris Real Estate, said in a press release that all five of the center’s tenants -- Target, Kohl’s, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Best Buy and JC Penney -- have all committed to staying at the Marquis. The Marquis was originally slated to have around 1 million square feet of retail and commercial space but construction stalled after the center’s original developer Premier Properties went bankrupt in 2008.
Current developer Todd Interests acquired the shopping center last year and has been focused on new plans for redevelopment of the center. The press release said that phase two of the development is expected to “be delivered” by the fall of 2013. Divaris is currently negotiating with several restaurants as well as clothing companies and a theater as tenants at the Marquis.
Online Shopping Leader MyReviewsNow.net Promotes Affiliate Partner Swarovski’s New Summer Collection of Fine Jewelry, Collectibles and More - PRWeb
Las Vegas, NV (PRWEB) May 20, 2012
MyReviewsNow.net, a leading online shopping destination that caters to people who want to avoid crowded malls and shop from home, work, or anywhere else they wish, is promoting affiliate partner Swarovski’s “In the Spotlight” summer 2012 collection.
Featuring stylish and exceptionally-crafted fine jewelry, collectibles, watches, charms and more, Swarovski’s 2012 summer collection has chic and stylish items for both men and women. The collection is also a source of terrific gift ideas for personal and professional occasions.
Established in Austria 120 years ago, Swarovski crystal is widely regarded as the world’s finest. The company’s online store features hundreds of luxury items across all price levels, and offers free shipping on orders over $95. Customers can also join the Swarovski Crystal Society (SCS), and be part of an exclusive members-only club comprised of people around with world with discerning tastes who enjoy Swarovski collectibles and products.
“MyReviewsNow.net is excited to promote the 2012 summer collection from our valued affiliate partner Swarovski,” commented an Affiliate Relationship Spokesperson from MyReviewsNow.net. “Whether people are online shopping for fine jewelry, collectibles, watches, gift ideas or more, they’ll find plenty of fabulous items at Swarovski’s online store to delight their senses year after year.”
Online shoppers who want to browse Swarovski’s “In the Spotlight” summer 2012 collection can head to MyReviewsNow.net and enter the online shopping mall’s Fashion Jewelry Portal. Access is completely free, open 24/7, and there’s no registration or membership. Plus, at MyReviewsNow.net, online shoppers can read helpful consumer reviews while they shop.
For more information or media inquiries, contact Lina Andrade at info(at)myreviewsnow(dot)net. Press release issued by SEOChampion.com.
About MyReviewsNow.net
A virtual shopping mall of services, products and publications available online, MyReviewsNow.net is a business directory that sets itself apart from similar sites
by offering both professional reviews and customer testimonials on the Internet’s hottest offerings in a fun, simple format that is easy for visitors to shop and enjoy.
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P Boost Ingredients / Natural Penis Enhancement Pills - 1UP.COM
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Most guys also desire discreet packaging, which this definitely has. You can even purchase this pill wholesale. A down side of the pill itself even though is that when you order it, there aren't that many that come, and for it to be a a single time ...New owners have big plans for Lowell plaza - Lowell Sun
LOWELL -- Several months ago, RD Management of New York purchased the 133,000-square-foot section of the Meadow Brook Center shopping plaza adjacent to the Target on Plain Street for $6 million, with hopes of breathing new life into the complex.
The real-estate development and management company has wasted little time.
Construction has begun to prepare thousands of square feet of empty space for new commercial tenants, with businesses expecting to open their doors in late summer or early fall.
RD has signed leases with three businesses to fill the upward of 20,000 square feet of unused space between Marshalls and Lincoln Technical Institute at the far end of the plaza.
The tenants will be apparel stores Eblens and Dots, as well as The Children's Place, a clothing store for children. Work is also under way to secure a fourth tenant for that section of the plaza.
"This is the first time in a long time someone has injected capital and worked to turn this part of the space into a viable end of the shopping center," said Roger Hirschhorn, a partner at RD Management, during a site tour on Thursday. RD Management's portfolio consists of more than 200 properties, including the Shops at Billerica, formerly Billerica Mall.
The former Bally's Fitness space next to Chuck E. Cheese's will also be occupied in the coming months. Best Fitness will open a new 17,000-square-foot location and Five Below, a discount retailer for teens and pre-teens, will
occupy close to 8,000 square feet.A third space remains to be filled in that portion of the center, but Hirschhorn said multiple retailers are looking at it.
The former Blockbuster space at the end of the center closest to Target will have new tenants, too. GNC, Hair Cuttery and Sleepy's will occupy 7,500 square feet.
"The demand has been strong for the open spaces and the rents have been strong, which is a testament to the vibrancy of the city of Lowell," Hirschhorn said.
The tenants already at the shopping center -- including Marshalls, China Buffet and Nails Depot -- will remain.
Chuck E. Cheese's is also staying and expanding to include the space formerly home to Isabel's Burritos.
To give the complex a more unified feel, a new dark bronze facade will be constructed. Columns will be wrapped with brick and all of the exterior walls will be painted to match Target's tan and brown colors.
Approximately $2 million is being spent on the revamp of the site, said Hirschhorn.
"Shoppers will have a more pleasant shopping experience than what they have had in the past and will have more options," said Hirschhorn.
Current tenants are looking forward to the new stores coming on board.
"All the new and exciting stores will bring more business," said William Guo, manager at China Buffet.
In addition, RD Management also plans to build a new 4,700-square-foot commercial building at the front of the center's parking lot.
Hirschhorn envisions a retailer or a restaurant occupying the space.
The Planning Board is slated to decide whether to grant site-plan approval to the proposed new building at Monday night's meeting.
The building will take up a portion of the parking lot, so plans include adding 74 parking spaces behind Lincoln Technical.
City officials are thrilled about RD Management's purchase of the Meadow Brook site.
"We are certainly pleased that this investment will substantially upgrade the plaza and bring a number of new retailers with national profiles to Lowell, expanding the options for residents to meet their shopping needs in the city," Assistant City Manager Adam Baacke, head of planning and development, wrote in an email.
Follow Lyle Moran on Twitter @lylemoran.
Letter: When shopping, be mindful of your surroundings - Signal
On Wednesday, May 16, I went to the Valencia Town Center to the Apple Store. I purchased an iPad and then left the store.
Unknown to me, I was being followed by someone. They saw me place my iPad in the trunk of my car. When I left the mall, I was followed.
I left my car for 10 minutes to go into Best Buy. During that time, the thieves broke into my trunk and took the iPad I just purchased.
My reason for writing this column is to let the community know that when they shop at the Apple Store, they need to be aware that individuals may be watching and waiting to take their purchases.
I wasn't the first person to be targeted, according to the officer who took my report. Santa Clarita residents need to be aware of crimes taking place in our valley.
Unfortunately, Best Buy does not have cameras in its parking lot. Valencia Town Security were looking into the security tapes to look for suspects. I appreciate their willingness to help.
CJ Home Shopping - Company Capsule - new company profile report - Transworld News
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