The Italian Center of Stamford is rebuilding and taking steps toward reopening after a fire closed 85 percent of the building last month.

Executive Director Paul Hickey says the fire broke out on April 6 in the women's locker room, sparked by clothing left in the sauna. He says the area damaged by the fire has since been knocked down and now worker are started to rebuild.

The Italian Center even held a pool party Friday night to kick off the holiday weekend.

Members of the center say the club has been good about letting its 4,000 members know when its facilities might be used again.

Hickey says the center is now expecting to reopen its indoor pool, gymnasium and fitness center by next Friday, pending approval by the city's Building Department.

He says some of the pools will reopen this weekend and the tennis courts have been open for several weeks.

The director added that the ballroom will be closed until the end of September and the club has been working with clients to help them find other venues.