Grand Bazaar mall, Valsayn, was shut down yesterday after a fire broke out at the Ruby Tuesday restaurant. Three other businesses—Off Rodeo, Girls 2–7 and Mark of Style stores—suffered smoke and water damage, a statement from ANSA McAL’s Group Corporate Communications Department said. There was no report of injury, it added.
The fire began at 11.05 am in the kitchen of Ruby Tuesday on the upper level of a building facing the Uriah Butler Highway. The fire started in the grill and after attempts to extinguish it failed, the Fire Services were called in. Speaking with the media at Grand Bazaar yesterday, Anthony Salloum, general manager of the mall, congratulated the staff and security officers for their swift action, adding he was hoping the rest of the shopping complex would return to normal.
He was not sure of the cost of the damage or repair, but said if the building was to be demolished and re-built it would take eight months to a year to complete. One tenant told the media she was disappointed in the Fire Services, which responded within 15 minutes after receiving the call. She said had the proper equipment been used, probably there would have been less damage.
Some tenants said they were frustrated that they were not allowed to remove some of the goods in their stores in an attempt to minimise loss. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. ANSA McAL, which owns the mall, said it regretted the inconvenience caused to its customers and tenants by the incident. “We expect to be fully operational as soon as security and safety clearance are given by the authorities,” the statement added.