Downtown LA

Downtown LA Shops Back in Business After Explosion

Shops and restaurants at a downtown Los Angeles high-rise were slowing getting back to business Monday a month after an underground explosion caused extensive damage to the building.

But as some of them returned, others were not allowed back to their offices, and some said they could not immediately reopen because of the loss of wages to their employees.

"We're off and running - it's a lot of work," said Dennis O' Leary of ABC Imaging, which was moving equipment out of the damaged unit.

O' Leary is now moving to another nearby location. Others business owners were trying to salvage their existing space.

The Aug. 20 blast at 811 West Wilshire Boulevard injured four people and left at least a dozen nearby buildings without power.

Emil Eyvazoff of Takami Sushi Restaurant and Elevate Lounge estimates the damage to his building at more than half a million dollars. That's just in revenue, not counting spoiled food and other products like wine.

Eyvazoff adds the biggest concern is his employees, who he paid throughout the time away from work. He said he still lost a few of them to other jobs.

"For the people that are client-facing who rely on tips, the paycheck doesn't do everything for them," he said.

The restaurant plans to reopen Thursday.

Meanwhile, the LADWP has not confirmed what caused the explosion.
 

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