A longtime business in downtown Butler has closed for an “extended period” after a late Wednesday evening fire, creating yet another challenge for people experiencing food insecurity in Butler.

After the fire, the owners of Miller’s Quality Meats surveyed the damage and said they plan to rehabilitate the space, but also expressed concern about their customers, many dependent on the Main Street business — easily accessible by foot — to meet their need for fresh meat products.

“We understand the potential impact on those who may face food insecurity during this challenging period, and we are actively exploring ways to support our incredible community. We appreciate your patience and we look forward to emerging as a strong business,” the owners said in a statement shared Friday.

Miller’s Quality Meats was damaged so extensively that the owners needed to throw away existing inventory.

A lieutenant at the Butler Bureau of Fire said the fire was contained to a utility room in the rear of the building, but the space sustained heavy smoke damage and the basement sustained water damage.

Miller’s is a staple in downtown Butler. One of the owners, Debra Matonak, said the business, located at 142 N. Main St., had operated as a butcher’s shop even before her late husband’s family took ownership in the late 1960s.

As the business gets back on its feet, the people of Butler who travel without a set of wheels may turn toward other resources, like the free community meals put on by area churches.

The free community dinners are held Mondays through Saturdays from 5 to 6 p.m. — Mondays at First English Lutheran Church, 241 N. Main St.; Tuesdays at All Saints Parish’s St. Paul Roman Catholic Church, 128 N. McKean St.; Wednesdays at Saint Andrews United Presbyterian Church, 201 E. Jefferson St.; Thursdays at St. Mark's Lutheran Church, 201 W. Jefferson St.; and Fridays at First United Methodist Church, 215 N. McKean St.

Additionally, meals are available on the first, fourth and fifth Saturdays at New Beginnings Free Methodist Church at 416 Center Ave., and the second and third Saturdays at North Street Christian Church at 220 W. North St.

Those resources will be crucial for that audience as Miller’s regroups.

“Our top priority is ensuring a safe and thorough disaster restoration process to get our facility operating again,” another owner, Jim Perko, said.

Perko said he’s considering a few ways to keep the business running while repairs are made, including selling out of a nearby building.

We’re grateful to learn the Main Street business does intend to rehabilitate the space and get back to business. Thanks for being in Butler.

— TL