A Stamford restaurant destroyed in an arson fire more than a year ago has finally reopened.
Pearl East has a new location on Hope Street, but brought the same staff and hosts many of the same customers.
Co-owner Ivy Bacher says it was devastating to lose the original restaurant in the fire, but even more so when officials ruled that someone had set the blaze intentionally.
The original location on Summer Street was destroyed on May 27, 2014.
Fire marshals determined that a suspect poured a flammable accelerant at the back door, but police were never able to identify a suspect.
Bacher says she was so upset that she nearly quit the business, but with support and encouragement from employees and customers, she and her partner found the new location on Hope Street.