From left to right: Diana Pun, Jimmy Pun and Mary Pun of Pun Longmeadow Realty cut the ribbon to offically open the rebuilt Maple Shopping Center, five years after a devastating fire.
Reminder Publishing photo by Peter Tuohy
LONGMEADOW — Nearly five years after a fire destroyed the 62-year-old Maple Shopping Center on Nov. 23, 2021, Longmeadow and the Pun family are beginning a brand-new chapter after celebrating the plaza’s grand reopening.
Located at the intersection of Shaker Road and Maple Street, the center’s four-alarm fire began a $5 million reconstruction led by the owners, Jimmy Pun, Mary Pun and Diana Pun of Pun Longmeadow Realty.
Town and elected officials, business owners and residents gathered at the reconstructed plaza on Oct. 24 for the celebration, which included a ribbon cutting, local business booths and a lion dance — a traditional dance in Chinese culture to bring good luck, prosperity and happiness.
Shoppers can see familiar businesses again, such as The Iron Chef Asian Cuisine, Dream Nail & Spa and The Bottle Shop, while welcoming in new tenants, including Country Bank, Colorado Ski and Bike, Back Nine Golf and The Refinery.
The plaza’s locally owned, 58-year anchor store, Armata’s Market, did not opt to return. Armata’s has a location in Hampden at 43 Somers Road.
East of the River Five Town Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Grace Barone kicked off the celebration. She said the plaza is a labor of love for the Pun family before introducing Diana Pun to speak.
Pun said the plaza has been a part of the Pun family for nearly 18 years, and a part of Longmeadow for even longer.
She said the fire was the first four-alarm fire and one of the most major reconstruction processes in Longmeadow.
“As you can imagine, you don’t want to be the first for any of those two things,” Pun said. “Jokes aside, we spoke with residents, we spoke with business owners, the neighbors throughout this process. We heard a common theme. People remembered Maple Shopping Center as a place for everyday things. It was a part of their lives, it was a part of ours too, and we missed it. They missed it.”
She said the sentiment became the motivation to rebuild and thanked each team that made the reconstruction possible, such as Capital Studios for design and Bowdoin Construction.
“Thank you so much for your collaboration, perseverance and your support,” Pun said. “To the businesses here today, our families, our friends and the Longmeadow community, thank you so much for being here. We welcome you back to Maple Shopping Center and look forward to serving you for many years.”
Select Board Chair Dan Zwirko said the fire was an incredibly difficult time for the community, but communities rally together during difficult times.
“I wish everyone great success in any business,” Zwirko said. “More than ever, we need to come support our local businesses and help these businesses thrive for a very long time.”
Select Board member Shelly Maynard-DeWolf said the reconstruction proved determination and a real testament to the community.
“Shopping plazas like this really help make our community so special,” Maynard-DeWolf said. “They bring people together, they help support our local economy and they really make Longmeadow the amazing town we’ve all come to value.”
State Rep. Brian Ashe expressed how happy he is for the Pun family for being able to rebuild.
“Everybody here knows what a staple this shopping plaza was for years and a devastating fire really decimated, not only the physical structure, but the community itself,” Ashe said. “Through disaster is really when people come together. Sadly, we had something like that, but it brought people together. It brought the good out in so many people, and I’m thrilled that we’re back here, bigger and more beautiful than ever.
Ashe and state Sen. Jake Oliveira’s District Director Jennifer Pickering presented the Pun family with citations of congratulations before cutting the ribbon to officially open the rebuilt plaza.
