Queens owners mourn the loss of businesses after large fire burns through building

A devastating fire ripped through a row of stores in Queens, triggering a massive FDNY response early Tuesday morning. 

More than 140 fire and EMS personnel responded to the blaze reported just before 4:30 a.m. on Hillside Avenue between Parsons Boulevard and 160th Street.

FDNY officials say it was a three-alarm fire. The building was home to several small businesses, including a nail salon, a grocery store, a meat shop and a pawnshop. 

Video from the scene showed the front of the Guatemalan store scorched. Windows were broken, and flames were seen shooting out of the roof. The fire was under control just before 6:45 a.m., firefighters said.

The owners of these businesses were in tears as they watched their livelihoods go up in flames. 

Building owner Benjamin Azizian said many of his tenants have deep emotional ties to this place. 

The man who runs the driving school has been his tenant for around 40 years. Camila's Nail Salon on the first floor is named after an employee's daughter. 

"They are all good tenants, every single one of them. I like all of them," he said. "I have a tenant from when I purchased the building."

While there is tremendous sadness over the decades of hard work lost, Azizian said he is thankful the building was empty.

"The first thing I asked them was 'Anybody inside?'" he said.  

There were no injuries, and the cause is under investigation.