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Butcher Shop Fire Was ‘Blessing in Disguise’

STEVENS TOWNSHIP —  A devastating fire isn’t usually something you celebrate. However, the owners of Dotti-Lou Meats near Wyalusing believe it gave ...
brad fire

STEVENS TOWNSHIP --  A devastating fire isn't usually something you celebrate. However, the owners of Dotti-Lou Meats near Wyalusing believe it gave them a chance to build the butcher shop they always wanted.

Exactly one year ago, the shop in Bradford County was destroyed by an electrical fire.

"It marked a new beginning for us," said  Jerilynn Scavazzo, co-owner. "We could've called it the end but we looked at it as a new beginning."

Since the fire, the Scavazzo family has worked tirelessly to get the store back up and running. And in January, it finally did, bigger and better than the one used since the 1970s.

"We always dreamed how the old store was and always used to say if we could only do this and only do that," Jerilynn added. The fire enabled us to do that."

Before the store was destroyed by the fire, the family was able to get one thing out: their computer that stores hundreds of family recipes.

John Davis was working for Southwestern Energy and saw the fire when it first started. He helped the owners recover what they could before the roof collapsed.

"Helping him get his belongings out," Davis explained. "Finally it was too late and you couldn't get in  [any]more."

As for the other customers you'll find on this "anniversary," Lori VanNess has to stand out. The resident of Florida has been coming here for years, filling up a chest and taking it back home.

"They told me it burned and I was very upset because I come here every time I'm here," VanNess said. "Then I said, 'are they going to build?' That's all I wanted to know! I just found out they rebuilt and I just got here and I came right over."

"It's a good place to stop in, grab some lunch and the beef sticks," Davis added. "Usually when we're working the area, someone has at least some kind of beef stick from here."

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