Owners talk impact of Wednesday fire at Miller’s Quality Meats, close Main Street store for repairs
Miller’s Quality Meats in Butler sustained heavy smoke damage in a fire Wednesday night, Jan. 17, prompting its owners to close the 55-year-old Main Street business until repairs can be made.
Two of the three owners worked at the 142 N. Main St. storefront Thursday to dispose of inventory and come up with a restoration plan for the space.
“I’m sad for the downtown residents because there’s a lot of dependency on us,” part-owner Debra Matonak said. “We’re close to our employees; we’re close to our customers.”
Matonak, whose late husband ,Dennis, operated the business until his death nearly a decade ago, hadn’t seen the fire damage when contacted Thursday morning. She was at home recovering from a knee surgery.
The other owners, Jim Perko and his son, Tom, met at the business early Thursday to assess the damage.
“The back is really bad,” Jim Perko said Thursday.
He said the fire damaged part of the business office and some technology toward the rear of the building. The rest of the building was affected by smoke, which led the business owners to dispose of any existing products.
Matonak said Dennis’ family had taken over the business, which had previously operated as a butcher’s shop, in 1968.
“I’m sad, but I know (Jim and Tom) will take care of things,” Matonak said.
The fire was reported at the business around 9:51 p.m., and crews remained on scene for more than two hours.
Lt. Floyd Lohr of the Butler Bureau of Fire said Thursday morning the fire was contained to where it originated: a utility room in the rear of the building.
The cause of the fire was listed as “undetermined,” following an investigation, he added.
“The fire started in a (room) that held a water tank and a boiler,” Lohr said. “Crews got on scene relatively quickly and knocked down the fire in around 30 minutes.”
No one was injured during the blaze, but the building sustained heavy smoke damage and the basement was subject to water damage, Lohr said.
Also affected by the fire was the business’s next-door neighbor, Cummings Candy & Coffee. Owner Barry Cummings said he was alerted to the fire shortly after it started.
“It was smoky in here, for sure … I was able to clear it out quickly,” Cummings said.
His business opened as usual Thursday morning, but the fire Wednesday night gave him a scare.
“I see the flashing lights, and I’m thinking 120 years was about to be up in smoke,” he said.
Cummings added he was happy the fire didn’t cause additional damage to his next-door neighbor’s building.
“We’re everyday customers over at (Miller’s), and they’re everyday customers (here),” he said.
Audrianna Bly, president of Butler Downtown, said she was glad to hear everyone was safe from the blaze and thanked the first responders for their work.
“We look forward to the restoration and reopening of Miller’s Meats and hope to help in any way we can,” she wrote to the Eagle on Thursday.
According to an early Thursday morning Facebook post from Miller’s Quality Meats, the store would be closed until further notice.
“Significant damage has occurred, and we anticipate an extended closure period,” the post said. “Our top priority is ensuring a safe and thorough disaster restoration process to get our facility operating again.”
Jim Perko said he is considering a few ways to keep the business running while repairs are made.
“We might sell out of the building next door,” he said.
Perko did not know Thursday how much a restoration would cost or how quickly it could happen.
In the Facebook post, the owners thanked the first responders for their efforts.
“We want to express our sincere gratitude for the prompt response from local firefighters, law enforcement, tenants, and neighboring businesses,” the post stated.
Butler Township Volunteer Fire District, Slippery Rock Volunteer Fire Company and Rescue Team, Butler Ambulance Service and VA Butler Healthcare Fire Department also responded to the call.
