The Archer’s Hall Design Centre has risen from the ashes like a phoenix.
Two years after it was razed by fire, the Speightstown, St Peter business was officially reopened on Wednesday evening.
Those attending the event in the design centre’s new beautifully decorated building included Prime Minister Mia Mottley, Senior Minister Dr William Duguid, Minister of Labour and member of Parliament for St Peter Colin Jordan, United States Ambassador to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Linda Taglialatela, real estate mogul Sir Paul Altman and businessman Bjorn Bjerkhamn.
Co-owner Monique Archer told those gathered that the renovation process was extremely difficult, tedious, and costly.
She thanked Bjerkhamn, her father, for investing in the rebuild when he could have chosen to use the beachfront property for other purposes.
“We are delighted to be reopening our beloved Archer’s Hall Design Centre. This building where our [business] has been based for the past 20 years was destroyed by a fire that originated in the building next door on September 3, 2020. This was devastating; however, we chose to use this disaster as a chance to rebuild and improve upon this lovely historic building,” she said.
Bjerkhamn, a director of the company, described the renovation as a “rebirth” and lauded the Government for its assistance with the rebuild.
“When the building burnt down on September 3, 2020, it was a tragedy and we had to decide if to rebuild it or not. Our Prime Minister came down here and told us whatever help we needed we would get, and with that assurance, we got going.
“The cooperation that we got from the Government agencies was amazing and it made our task a lot, lot easier. I know some developers feel that they have to cry down the various Government agencies that they have to deal with, but I have to tell you it was a pleasure,” Bjerkhamn said.
“Since this building dates back some 300 years, we tried to incorporate as much as the remaining bits of the original building into this lovely building you now see here, which did make the job a lot more difficult.”
The businessman also promised to continue to be involved in the development of Speightstown. (RB)
