Storefront collapses in Soundview shopping center

<p>A storefront collapsed Monday in a Soundview shopping center, forcing dozens of people to evacuate.</p>

News 12 Staff

Apr 23, 2018, 9:59 PM

Updated 2,194 days ago

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A storefront collapsed Monday in a Soundview shopping center, forcing dozens of people to evacuate.
It happened around 12:30 p.m. at the Lafayette Family Pharmacy, located at Soundview and Story avenues.
Consuelo Ortego says she was helping a customer inside the pharmacy when the collapse happened.
"I was just standing there about to buy some glasses, and I turned around and the whole store caved in," she says.
After the collapse, witnesses snapped photos and gathered outside as firefighters worked to contain the area and assess the damage to the roof. Nobody was injured, but pieces of brick damaged cars. The roof camera of the News 12 studio building captured the moments just after the facade came down.
People were evacuated from all nearby stores, which had to close after the incident.
The Department of Buildings is conducting a structural stability investigation and has ordered a sidewalk shed and fence be installed.
Con Edison shut off the power to the pharmacy while officials investigated.
The pharmacy owner told News 12 that officials said he will most likely be able to reopen his deli - located three doors down - on Tuesday, but it's going to be a while for the pharmacy to reopen.


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