Northwest Tobacco Emporium in Port Angeles, which was closed since a vehicle crashed into it in April, has reopened. The building has been secured and the store is now allowed to resume business. The store also has another location in Sequim. Peninsula Daily News reported
Northwest Tobacco Emporium in Port Angeles has finally reopened after being closed for several months due to a vehicle crashing into the front of the store. Although the exterior of the building may appear unchanged, the interior has been securely braced to meet the city’s safety standards and allow the business to resume operations. The store management has put up signs outside, requesting customers to park outside and apologizing for any inconvenience caused by the ongoing construction.
The store’s operating hours are from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays. Additionally, the store has another location in Sequim, which is situated in the parking lot of the old JCPenny’s and operates under the same hours. Despite the ongoing reconstruction, there are currently no limitations on the business’s operations.
The process of reopening the store was not easy for the owners, as they had to coordinate with the building’s landlord, insurance company, a structural engineer, commercial contractor, and city officials. However, they were finally issued a building permit for a temporary wall to support the damaged structure inside the space. The supporting walls have been completed, allowing for the store’s reopening. Furthermore, the owner’s agent is seeking information from the city regarding a facade improvement grant, which would assist in renovating the store’s cosmetics damaged during the accident.
The individual responsible for the crash was identified as Mason L. Stollar. He crashed his 2008 Mazda 6 into the Northwest Tobacco Emporium store late at night, causing the car to burst into flames and burn part of the building. Stollar was trapped inside the vehicle but was eventually rescued. He suffered a broken femur and was taken to Olympic Medical Center for treatment. As of now, there have been no updates on his legal proceedings, as the police are still awaiting the results of a blood test. The Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney’s office has not provided any information about potential prosecution or restitution.
Despite the challenges faced during the reconstruction process, the store has managed to maintain its product inventory and even accepts custom orders. However, they apologize in advance if they are temporarily out of stock or unable to fulfill certain quantities. The management assures customers that they will do everything possible to meet their needs as quickly as possible..