Fire destroys building occupied by 5 Virginia Beach businesses

Commercial building owner Cavelle Mollineaux is still recovering from a tenant's phone call early Monday morning warning him that his building was on fire.

A passerby called 911 after spotting smoke, and firefighters arrived and extinguished the fire before the start of the work day for the five companies occupying the building at 3396 Holland Road in Virginia Beach.

“We want the light to shine on the Virginia Beach firefighters – their quick response, their painstaking work in putting out the fire and putting their lives in danger – they were hands down incredible,” Mollineaux said.

He said he wants any aid to go to the fire department's foundation.

Mollineaux, the broker-owner of Onyx Realty Professionals, said 90 percent of the building was damaged by fire, smoke and water, but he is grateful that none of the 100 employees who work at the five companies were in the building at the time.

“The building can be rebuilt so we know we will come back bigger and better,” he said.

Now, Onyx and the four other displaced businesses are scrambling to find creative ways to serve their customers, he said. The other companies are Zircon Insurance Group, Sapphire Elite Realty Management, Amethyst Decor and Unique Skin & Beauty Bar.

Onyx Realty, Zircon and Sapphire Elite are working remotely and from an adjacent 2,000 square foot building owned by Mollineaux. This building is separated from the other by a courtyard. Businesses are always looking for temporary physical spaces.

“Our goal is not to stop, pause or give in,” he said. “We're slowly coming back, but we're definitely open for business and we're making progress.”

Rebuilding could take more than six months, Mollineaux said, and he looks forward to putting down even deeper roots in the community. Mollineaux was recognized by Inside Business as one of last year's Top Forty Under 40 honorees.

The damaged 7,200-square-foot building had just completed a 10-month rehabilitation last year. Mollineaux acquired it in December 2022. It was previously occupied by Beach Health Clinic from 2001 until its closure in 2021.

He had moved his business from a 2,200-square-foot space a few miles away to about 5,000 square feet at the Holland Road property in October.

Fire department spokeswoman Barbara Morrison said in an email Wednesday that the investigator was still awaiting lab results regarding the cause of the fire.

Sandra J. Pennecke, 757-652-5836, [email protected]