By Jennifer Glickel and Jordan Heller
DNAinfo Staff
INWOOD — A fire ripped through an Inwood bodega Monday afternoon, completely destroying what local residents called a "neighborhood institution."
The blaze erupted about 1 p.m. at the Rima Discount bodega at 4791 Broadway and quickly spread to Genesis's Fruit Mania, a neighboring cafe, the FDNY said.
Michael Leanza, the FDNY batallion chief at the scene, said 75 firefighters and 15 trucks responded and extinguished the fire about 2:30 p.m. — but not before both the bodega and cafe were razed.
M.G. Langer, 37, the super of 4791 Broadway — which houses several apartments on the upper floors — said the Rima Discount bodega was a "neighborhood institution."
"Everyone comes here every morning to get their coffee, their lottery numbers, their newspapers," he said. "It will change everyone's daily routine and definitely mine."
Langer and his father tried to put out the fire with extinguishers but "the blaze was huge," he said.
The owner of Genesis's Fruit Mania, who declined to give his name, said he was scared and couldn't breathe because of the smoke.
"Everything is destroyed completely," he said, adding that his store was brand new and only opened three months ago.
An apartment directly above the bodega also sustained fire, smoke and water damage. Two firefighters suffered minor injuries.
"[The fire fighters] did a great job," said Langer. "They saved the building."
