Grand Rapids, MI – A devastating fire that broke out Sunday evening has destroyed a building that housed both Firme Estilo Hair Salon and Southwest Ink, two local businesses in Grand Rapids. The fire, which is now being investigated as suspicious, occurred on South Division Avenue near Baylis Street. Local police are actively working with an arson investigator and K-9 unit to determine the cause of the blaze.
The salon and tattoo parlor, run by mother and son duo Gloria Perez and Rafael Torres, were more than just businesses to the family. They represented a new beginning after years of hardship, offering a path out of generational poverty and a cycle of incarceration. Torres, who ran Southwest Ink, shared the emotional toll the fire had taken, recalling their journey from struggles with eviction and poverty to creating a space that served their community.
“We came from nothing. We came from sleeping with roaches, evictions, prisons. It wasn’t much, but we felt like we made it with this. This was our version of making it out the hood and making it into a better lifestyle,” said Torres, speaking with local news outlets.
The family also aimed to give back to the Burton Heights neighborhood, striving to create an inclusive and welcoming environment for anyone who walked through their doors. Torres expressed their commitment to the community, saying their goal was to provide a place where people, especially minorities, could feel accepted and loved.
The night of the fire, around 8:30 p.m., Torres and his mother began receiving calls and texts informing them that the building was ablaze. Rushing to the scene, Torres described the overwhelming scene, saying it “looked like hell.” Firefighters fought the blaze, but the situation quickly escalated, forcing them to evacuate the building as the ceiling collapsed. One firefighter sustained a serious arm injury but is expected to recover.
As the fire raged, Torres and Perez watched helplessly, with community members arriving to offer support. “Everyone is driving by, pulling up, giving us hugs and watching our business burn down with us. They’re like, ‘Man, we’ve been coming here every week for years,’” Torres said, reflecting on the emotional impact of seeing their hard work go up in flames.
The roof of the building ultimately caved in, leaving the structure a total loss. While the exact cause of the fire remains unclear, Torres suspects that it may have been deliberately set. Despite never having received threats, he remains resolute in his belief in forgiveness. “Whoever did this, I forgive them. I do. I’m no one to hate anybody for what they did. I don’t know why, but I hope one day they find peace within themselves to not hurt anybody like this again,” he said.
In the aftermath of the fire, the building’s doors and windows have been boarded up, and the family faces the difficult task of rebuilding their lives and livelihood. However, Torres expressed a sense of resilience, saying that while they may have lost their business and some peace of mind, they have not lost faith, love, or hope.
“We may have lost the business, we may have lost some peace, but one thing we didn’t lose is faith, love, and hope. We’re holding each other tight,” Torres said.
The family has received support from other local business owners, who have offered them temporary space to operate while they recover. Additionally, a GoFundMe account has been set up to assist them in rebuilding their businesses and starting anew.
As the investigation continues and the community rallies behind them, Perez and Torres remain hopeful that they will overcome this tragedy and rebuild the business they worked so hard to create.
