Business that suffered loss of building in Fairways fire set to get permanent new home
A business that lost its building in an arson attack is soon to have a more permanent home.
SJ Travel Centre was one of several businesses that were destroyed at Fairways Business Park on March 8, when a man in a balaclava drove a car into the building and set it alight.
Since the fire, SJ Travel Centre has been able to continue due to having its files online and has had a temporary office for the time being.
However, come the end of the month, SJ Travel Centre will have a more permanent home on Longman Road, Inverness until the Fairways site is rebuilt.
Speaking about the new unit, SJ Travel Centre owner Julia Macleay said: “We’re hopefully moving in at the end of the month and we will announce the exact location nearer the time.
“We decided this new place was the best option and it provides parking for all our customers too!
“It’s all quite exciting and things are getting ordered and we are set to have an open evening too.”
Since the fire, Julia has seen an outpouring of love from the community with lots of well-wishers cheering them on to get back on their feet.
She said: “People are really kind and even simply asking how you are means quite a bit. They don’t have to book a holiday or use us but just asking how we are is so lovely.
“Some people have been really amazing and helpful. Tui is giving us some of their furniture for our new shop and Highland Office Equipment donated some desks
“The community of Inverness is still really good.”
There has however been moments that have been hard, especially seeing the building at Fairways get demolished last week.
More bureaucratic issues such as Wi-Fi connection and getting mail redirected have also been more of a struggle since the fire.
Julia also wants to ensure that the other businesses who lost their buildings also remain in people’s minds.
She said: “Many of the hair places have relocated and are still serving customers. Just because they are not at Fairways at the moment, doesn’t mean they have disappeared.”
She added: “I hope once we move, we will pick up some more customers and we are hoping it is the best move ever. I don’t know how long Fairways will take to get built, but we have been told it could be up to a couple of years.
“We’ve just got to keep going and look at positives and we are lucky that we had a business that we could pick up and do that.”
