Algernong Allen standing in the remains of the Elena’s Soul building. Photo by Danophonic Dan.

Editor’s note: Algernong sent us this letter in response to our request for comments on the future of Elena’s Soul. We’ve edited it to fit our format, but the words were not changed.

My thoughts, prayers, and deepest sympathies are with the employees, residents and owners, of business and property in the Cedar Park community detrimentally impacted by the fire at Elena’s Soul on Monday December 24^th at about 1 p.m. My greatest consolation is that there was no loss of life, or injury.

The initial determination of the City’s Fire Marshal and my independent fire inspector indicates the fire originated in the kitchen somewhere above the refrigerators, most likely in the ceiling. Due to the temperature of the blaze, hot enough to melt metal, and the total decimation, the exact cause is not determinable. There were no fire violations at Elena’s Soul, and all City required inspections and maintenance of cooking equipment, fire alarm system,  fire suppression, hood cleaning and fire extinguishers were current.  Foul play is not suspected or indicated by any reports at this time.

The Department of Licenses and Inspections declared Elena’s 3-story brick structure unsafe and scheduled demolition. The neighboring businesses, Gary’s Nails and the Cedar Park Café, had suffered limited physical and structural damages as a result of the conflagration. However, during demolition, the towering brick walls were felled into the neighboring businesses, causing severe and extensive damages. Gary’s Nails may have been structurally compromised and may face condemnation.

I am more sorry for the misfortune caused to the wonderful women, who operate Gary’s Nails and their employees, than words can express.

For our customers, our friends, who have become our ever growing and changing family … Thank you! I know many felt Elena’s Soul (and LeRoy’s) was as much their place as it was mine. Community was built there. No matter the difference of culture, hue, orientation or outlook, our common desire to share fellowship though food, music and drink contributed to understanding and acceptance of our differences.

I have great sadness that your special place is gone, and our special place is lost.

“I have great sadness that your special place is gone, and our special place is lost.” (Photo from Elena’s Soul Facebook page)

For this, not only do I feel your pain, but I share it, and understand it.

It is too early to say what the next step is from here. The process of recovery is extremely complex. The realities of liability, insurance, litigation and debt make simple answers to simple questions difficult.

In terms of fundraising, I understand that many wish to find ways to help.  I would respectfully ask those who wish to help, not to press the issue.  I appreciate the sentiment, but do not wish to be the object of charity.

I am thankful to be a part of your community. I am thankful for the outpouring of support and sympathy. We have all lost a special place. May we all hold on to our good memories.

Best Regards,

Algernong Allen III

Police last night apprehended the teen suspected of shooting two men at the 46th Street El stop earlier this month.

Matthew Early, 18, was taken into custody in a friend’s home on the 1700 block of N. 27th St. at about 6 p.m. on Friday, police said. Police apprehended his brother, 17-year-old Eric Early, on Dec. 16. Both brothers live on the 100 block of S. 49th St.

Both teens were on the run after they were named as suspects shown in surveillance video firing a single shot into a train car on Dec. 12 following an argument with a Chicago Bulls fan returning home from the Bulls-Sixers game earlier that night. One man was shot through the stomach and a man standing behind him was hit with the same bullet in the leg.

Police say Matthew Early was the shooter. Both brothers have been charged with attempted murder and aggravated assault. Eric Early has been charged as an adult, police said.

UPDATE (Dec. 30): The Wine and Spirits store on the 4900 block of Baltimore Avenue has reopened.

Crews have demolished the building that housed the popular bar and restaurant Elena’s Soul, which was destroyed by fire Monday. The demolition caused severe damage to adjacent buildings, prompting the city to order that those buildings either be repaired or demolished themselves.

The City placed an “imminently dangerous” notice on Gary’s Nails today after the walls of the three-story building that housed Elena’s collapsed through the nail salon’s roof. A wall in Gary’s was also severely damaged during the demolition. The notice requires the building’s owner to repair or demolish the building in a timely manner.

A wall from the Elena’s building also crashed through the roof of the adjacent Cedar Park Cafe, prompting the City to also serve notice to the building’s owner that it needs to be repaired or demolished.

The fire and demolition has also impacted the Wine and Spirit Store next door to Gary’s. The store has been closed since demolition began and a sign posted in the window says that it will be “closed until further notice.” It remained closed Friday afternoon.

So far there has been no indication of where or whether Elena’s will rebuild. Elena’s Soul carried on a long tradition of bars in the building, which was reportedly built in 1908. Before Elena’s, the building was the home of Leroy’s Showcase Lounge. Elena’s catered to a relatively young, multiracial crowd.

“That place brought a lot of different kinds of people together,” said one man as he watched the demolition today. “Gonna be tough to replace that.”

A cause of the fire has not yet been determined.

The liquor store adjacent to Gary’s Nails will be closed until further notice.

We’re sad to report that this afternoon a fire destroyed Algernong Allen’s Elena’s Soul, a popular restaurant and bar on the 4900 block of Baltimore Avenue. Fortunately there were no injuries in the fire, which damaged all three floors of the building at 4912 Baltimore Avenue.

The fire, which started at about 1 p.m., reportedly caused some damage to the Cedar Park Cafe and Gary’s Nails, the two businesses on either side of Elena’s. The cause of the fire has not yet been reported.

We’ll report more details as we get them.

Neighbor Shenid Bhayroo sent the video below. It was shot at about 2:45 p.m. A reader named Ashley sent the photo. Thanks Shenid and Ashley.

 

One man was killed and two others are in critical condition after a shooting at an apartment building at 4618 Chester Ave. last night.

Police say a 20-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene with a gunshot wound to the head. Two other men were taken to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and are in critical condition with gunshot wounds to the face and neck.

Police say they are looking for three suspects who were dressed in black and apparently forced their way into the four-story building. Police say the shootings happened in a third-floor apartment. The owner of the building would not comment on who lived in the apartment.

Police said the suspects fled eastbound on Chester Avenue in a dark vehicle.

We will pass along more details as they become available.

Anyone with information can contact Philadelphia Police at 215-686-TIPS (8477), text a tip to PPD TIP (773847) or through phillypolice.com.

Members of the St. Bernard Community Garden are rejoicing today after the City stepped in at the last second to save a piece of their garden.

The plot of land at 1010 S. Saint Bernard St. went up for Sheriff’s sale today, meaning a developer could have snatched up the plot and evicted the gardeners. Gardeners and their supporters have been frantically raising money to buy the land in case the City, which had pledged to help the gardeners if it could, was outbid. The City and the gardeners could not combine on a bid.

Auction bidding today on the property started at $10,000 and rose to $50,000, more than the gardeners could pay. No one from the City had bid, leading some to shout complaints. According to a report on the Saint Bernard Community Garden website, the bidding was put on hold. When it resumed the City bid $71,500 and the sale was closed.

The City’s purchase is the first in a number of steps that could ensure the long-term viability of the garden.

“Our goal is to see it eventually transferred to a land trust and remain a community green space and asset for decades to come,” the website reads.

Gardeners began turning soil at 1010 St. Bernard soon after burned-out buildings on the plot were removed in 1997, about the same time the plot’s owner stopped paying property taxes.

Though today’s bid was a victory for the gardeners, the story doesn’t end there. The garden is spread across two plots – 1010 and 1008 S. St. Bernard. Back taxes are also owed on 1008 and gardeners say will likely come up for sale next year. The money they have raised so far will be saved – and more will be raised – for that auction.