After the flames, a quiet resolve not to be licked

Their properties and businesses might still be charred, but most of the entrepreneurs hit by fires in Jamaica Plain are rebuilding or plotting their return to business.

At the South Street building that burned on March 24, three of the five shops plan on returning, said owner Nick Skourtis . Maria's Hair Fashion, Felix Pizzeria, and Botanica San Miguel will return, he said. A new clothing shop and another business will replace two shops whose owners decided they no longer needed a storefront. Skourtis said his insurance company has paid out and the reconstruction is underway.

The destroyed business where the fire started, Maria's Hair Fashion, has temporarily relocated to Logan Square in Hyde Park, where it is drawing both old and new customers, said Paul Joseph , husband of owner Maria Joseph .

"We suffered a loss, as so many others suffered," said Paul Joseph, a Boston police sergeant. "We were fortunate to be able to recover faster than some of the others, but we're still in a tough situation. We will be recovering for quite some time, but we're doing the best we can."

ASAP Lock and Key and JP Urban Apparel are not returning to South Street.

The Boston Fire Department has ruled the March fire as arson, as well as an Aug. 21 fire that destroyed Century 21 Pondside Realty on Centre Street. An Aug. 17 fire that destroyed a dentist's office and damaged four other Washington Street businesses at Forest Hills is still under investigation. In all, 15 businesses were either destroyed or damaged by the three fires.

On Nov. 1, more than 20 restaurants and shops gathered for "Cooks for a Cause" to raise money for businesses hit by the fires. The fund-raiser was organized by Jamaica Plain Centre/South Main Streets and several city agencies, politicians, and business groups. About $12,000 has been raised so far by the community.

"Everybody wants to help, because all small businesses understand how vulnerable they are," said Jody Wolk , executive director of the Main Streets agency. "Coming back takes longer than you'd ever want to think about."

El Oriental de Cuba, which burned in a July 2005 arson fire and recently re opened, also will receive a donation, Wolk said.

Back on South Street, Skourtis said he won't bring back the security grate that did not prevent the arsonist from setting the fire.

Mayor Thomas Menino has pushed for the removal of security grates.

"It gives an impression to everyone around that it's an unsafe neighborhood," Wolk said. "And it doesn't do the trick, anyway."

Good lighting, security cameras, and alarms work better than security grates, she said, and police offer security training.

One business that quickly relocated was Century 21 Pondside Realty, from 619 Centre St.

Chris Stamatos , who owns the building with his family, already owned a building down the street and moved his business into a vacant storefront at 656 Centre St. "We're fortunate and lucky to have a space, and we're lucky to have gotten back on our feet," he said.

Stamatos said he had planned on adding a second floor of office space at the building that burned, and the fire accelerated his plans.

Eleganzar Boutique and Fantasy Nails plan on returning, he said. "Everything takes time, but it's going to be a bigger and better building," he said.

Two of the three JP fires this year involved properties owned by Greeks or Greek-Americans. The Stamatoses are Greek-American; Skourtis, the owner of the South Street building, is Greek. In addition, El Oriental, which burned in 2005, is owned by John Kariotis , also of Greek descent.

Those numbers have led to speculation in the neighborhood that the arsonist or arsonists might have targeted Greek-American businesses. Skourtis, for his part, said there are no problems within the Greek community.

"I don't have a problem with anyone, and I don't see any Greeks fighting with other Greeks," he said.

On Washington Street, building owner William Kilroy said Forest Hills Dental and Forest Hills Pizza also will return.

Kilroy's Forest Hills Check Cashers store already is open.

The fire destroyed the dentist's office, severely damaged Forest Hills Pizza, and forced the Dogwood Café to shut down for a time.

The building at 3724 Washington St. has been cleaned out, and Kilroy said he has received a down payment from his insurance company and has filed plans with the city.

"Everybody is in hurry-up-and-wait mode," he said. "It's going to be a long process."

One business that won't return there is Suffolk Insurance, which has relocated to 1416 Centre St. in Roslindale.

"We tried, but we just couldn't find a place in Jamaica Plain," said Mike Isabel , who owns the business with his wife, Nancy.

The owner of Forest Hills Dental, Gabriel Fritz , has temporarily set up shop in Dorchester.

"I just have to work, work, work," said Fritz, a Haitian immigrant. "I'm just hoping and praying that I can get back again. Everything's possible, and Jamaica Plain is where I want to go back to."

Paul Joseph said the new Maria's Hair Fashion has done so well in Hyde Park that his wife might keep it open when she re opens her Jamaica Plain shop.

"If Maria ends up with two places and things work out, then it's a blessing and we're better off in the end," he said. "The bad people who did this, you can't let them win, you can't let them get away with breaking your spirit. If that was their intention, then it didn't work."