A fire destroyed a branch of Farm Stores - the self-service store chain popularly known as "La Vaquita" - located in the southwest of Miami-Dade this morning, causing severe damage to the premises and shocking local residents, according to a report by Telemundo 51.
The fire was reported at 7:11 AM near the 15000 block of SW 56 Street, at approximately the intersection with SW 152 Avenue, an area with a high density of Latino residents.
There was only one person inside the establishment, who fortunately managed to exit without assistance.
“At the time of the fire, there was one person inside who safely exited the structure on their own,” reported the Miami-Dade fire department. The paramedics assessed them on the scene, but no medical transport was needed.
The battalion chief of the Miami-Dade Fire Department, Kenneth Wood, confirmed that the teams managed to extinguish the flames before they reached the roof of the establishment.
Images circulated on social media and showed the establishment completely engulfed in flames.
The cause of the incident is still under investigation by the authorities.
The news struck particularly hard for residents and regular customers who have been visiting that establishment for decades. The fire has consumed a business that for years was a must-stop for many families in South Florida.
Farm Stores is a chain of drive-thru convenience stores founded in Florida in 1957, originally dedicated to selling milk and bakery products. With the arrival of Cuban and Latin American immigrants in Miami during the 1960s and 70s, the chain began to incorporate products from Latin culture such as Cuban bread, flan, cheese tequeños, cachitos, corn arepas, empanadas, and some locations even offer Cuban pizza.
The nickname "La Vaquita" comes from the cow in the company's logo, and it sells everyday food products, freshly baked bread, hot coffee, and prepared meals such as pizzas and snacks.
There are currently more than 30 Farm Stores locations in South Florida, making the chain one of the most recognizable in the daily landscape of Miami-Dade for the community.
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