Routed by fire, Blanca Tailoring eyes a comeback

By Alberto Gilman
Posted 1/8/25

Blanca Tailoring, a local business at 103 Liberty St., is preparing to reopen in mid-to-late January, pending final city inspections. Owner Blanca Sotelo said she is eager to welcome customers back …

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Routed by fire, Blanca Tailoring eyes a comeback

Posted

Blanca Tailoring, a local business at 103 Liberty St., is preparing to reopen in mid-to-late January, pending final city inspections. Owner Blanca Sotelo said she is eager to welcome customers back after being forced to close due to water damage from a fire in the building last summer.

On July 25, 2024, the City of Newburgh Police Department responded to an alarm at the four-story building on Liberty Street. Fire crews found a small fire in a third-floor bedroom, which was extinguished by a single sprinkler. While the sprinkler system prevented the fire from spreading, the resulting water damaged the tailor shop on the ground floor, forcing its closure.

A sign posted in the shop window shortly after the fire informed customers of the temporary closure. It read: “We are sorry to announce that our shop will be closed for a few months. This is my number; I will be continuing my business out of a temporary location. Thank you so much for all your support.”

Blanca Tailoring has been a fixture on Liberty Street since late 2019. Despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Sotelo adapted by making masks for purchase and kept the business afloat.

“It’s not easy when things like this happen,” Sotelo said. “It’s been a long process—dealing with insurance, permissions, and repairs—but we’re getting there. It’s been almost six months, and we’re almost at the end.”

Throughout the closure, Sotelo said her loyal customers continued to support her. Many reached out through Facebook, phone calls, and even handwritten cards, inquiring about the shop’s status. Sotelo maintained a busy schedule, fulfilling orders for weddings, proms, and sweet sixteen events from a temporary location.

The overwhelming community support has inspired Sotelo to stay in Newburgh and reopen at her original location. “I thought about moving, but this is my home,” she said. “I want to get back to Liberty Street and my customers.”

As reopening day approaches, Sotelo has replaced the old sign in her shop window with a new message: “Blanca Tailoring is coming soon. I hope to see you soon. We miss all my customers.” The sign includes her phone number, 845-542-9438, alongside a heart and smiley face.

Sotelo encourages residents to support her business and other small businesses in Newburgh. “The community means everything to me,” she said. “I can’t wait to get back and see everyone again.”