On December 27 at 11:30 p.m. a fire started at 844 Broadway, turning the cars being worked on into nothing but a burnt up shell. Within hours Dennis Derry lost everything, 47 years of equipment, tools and memories made in his garage, Dennis’s Service Center, were all gone with the sweep of a roaring fire.

“I got the call at 12:30 a.m. they said there was a fire at the location,” said Derry. “By the time I got there it was over, 47 years worth of tools and equipment, all gone. This is stuff I’ll never be able to get back. It was a shock and you were completely numb. Now I have to try to make the best of a bad situation.”

Derry started his shop on March 19, 1976, selling gas for Sunoco at 53.9 cents per gallon. He spent his life working at his garage, and became a well known mechanic in the area helping out people in the community whenever he could, even other mechanics in the area when they needed special tools or guidance Derry had.

“I’ve put my heart and soul into this business,” said Derry. “I bought the property in 1980, I appreciate all the business the community has given me over the years. It’s been my life, everyday going to work seven days a week 24 hours a day. This is not the way I thought my career would end up.”

Over the past decade Derry has been knocked down multiple times with an environmental cleanup from the previous owners of the property that cost him over $400,000 and half a million dollars in medical expenses from his recent open heart surgery.

With all the money he spent on the environmental cleanup and his medical expenses Derry is financially drained. The business was all he had left, without his tools and his garage he is left with nothing to start up again.

“I got knocked down two times,” said Derry. “I don’t know how I’m going to get back up from this one.”

The remains of the shop are apocalyptic, with cars burnt down to the shell. Customer cars still remain in the shop on a melted burnt up lift. The ceiling is caved in laying on top of the blackened remains of what once was the office and work space.

“Nothing is salvageable,” said Derry. “Everything is gone.”

Derry took care of the community any way he could, going the extra mile for his customers, even if they couldn’t pay him fully for the work he was doing.

“I never left anybody stranded,” said Derry. “If I could do anything to help someone I would do it even if they didn’t have the money.”

His charitable demeanor gave him awards and recognition from the community. When he was selling gas for Citgo, after servicing the car of a representative of a senator passing through the area he received an award for his actions.

“He’s so hard not to love, because he’s so good to everybody,” said longtime friend Vicki Bell. “You would go in that shop there was always people around talking to him not only about cars but to get advice in life. I always felt great comfort in that garage.”

For Derry to get his business open again he needs substantial financial assistance. There will be a fundraiser at Union Square on Sunday, January 27 at 2 p.m. to raise money for Derry. Tickets will be $100 per person including pizza and soda.

If you would like to make a contribution to put Dennis’s Service Center back in business you can mail a contribution to Dennis Derry at 844 Broadway, Newburgh, NY 12550

For more information call Vicki Bell at 914-874-4541.