Thousands Donated To Long Beach Businesses Destroyed In Fire

LONG BEACH, NY — A community is rallying behind two West Park Avenue businesses destroyed by a fire in May.

While the owners of Sorrento's Italian Specialities and Abyss Tattoo are figuring out their next steps, a pair of GoFundMe page were created to help them rebuild — wherever that might be.

Megan Casey, owner of Shine's Bar on West Beech Street, put a page together for Sorrento's, who also owns the building that was ravished by the May 26 blaze.

Sorrento's received more than $12,000 in donations from more than 150 people. But, the popularity of the establishment was recognized as more than $10,000 was donated within two days of the page going live, a spokesperson from GoFundMe said in a statement.

Abyss Tattoo, looking to find a new location for its body artistry parlor, has more than $17,000 in donations to the GoFundMe page, created by co-owner Dan Henk.

"We are fortunate to have this amount of support," co-owner Paul Tochluk told Patch. "It is amazing that so many people have donated to us and understand how hard we have worked to create what we had."

While no one was injured in the fire, Abyss had amassed decades of original art, including rare pieces and collectibles, all of which were lost in the shop's ashes.