April 12, 2008
Apparent Transformer Failure Shuts Down Pullman for Hours
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – Although severe weather warnings hovered nearby Huntington, at about 6:10 p.m. Friday, April 11, Pullman Square had a mini-version of “Where Were You When the Lights Went Out,” a blackout that struck NYC in the 70s.
“I was standing at the popcorn stand,” said Charlotte Alesi, general manager of Marquee Cinemas Pullman Square. “I yelled grab the flashlights.”
However, the power outage lasted longer than anyone anticipated. As rain trickled down, Pullman patrons and security tended to huddle by the escalators and steps.
After about an hour of standing by open doors, businesses at Pullman began hanging “Closed: Due to Power Outage” signs.
As the waiting continued, early arrivals for the Funny Bone Marshall alumni gathering discovered the venue, along with Max & Erma’s, Empire Books, Chico’s and all in the Pullman perimeter without electricity.
When the power first went out and emergency lights came on, ushers were sent down the hall to let patrons know the situation. Some left and some waited.
After 20 to 30 minutes, “we made a judgment call,” Alesi said. “We evacuated the building.” Patrons were given rain checks to return to see a movie in its entirety.
One manager at a first floor shop learned that a transformer had failed. She called the owners who told her to close early. Starbucks appeared to be in the process of opting for a similar decision when around 8 p.m., illumination returned.
It did not take long after that for Pullman minglers to form a line at the Marquee box office, despite “power outage” signs.
Marquee was the first business to open at Pullman. Alesi , who has been with the company since the opening, could not recall such a lengthy outage that affected all the Square.
Prior to the Pullman outage, lights flicked off then returned on Fourth Avenue. The Huntington Fire Department responded to an alarm at the St. James Building.
The theatre resumed showing movies with the nine o’clock shows. Starbucks and Five Guys and Empire Books re-opened, but from a survey of dark businesses most of the others took the remainder of Friday evening off.
Across from Pullman, the Marshall alumni week official opening at the Culinary Institute remained in progress. The lights on the south side of Third Avenue were not affected.
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Apparent Transformer Failure Shuts Down Pullman for Hours
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – Although severe weather warnings hovered nearby Huntington, at about 6:10 p.m. Friday, April 11, Pullman Square had a mini-version of “Where Were You When the Lights Went Out,” a blackout that struck NYC in the 70s.
“I was standing at the popcorn stand,” said Charlotte Alesi, general manager of Marquee Cinemas Pullman Square. “I yelled grab the flashlights.”
However, the power outage lasted longer than anyone anticipated. As rain trickled down, Pullman patrons and security tended to huddle by the escalators and steps.
After about an hour of standing by open doors, businesses at Pullman began hanging “Closed: Due to Power Outage” signs.
As the waiting continued, early arrivals for the Funny Bone Marshall alumni gathering discovered the venue, along with Max & Erma’s, Empire Books, Chico’s and all in the Pullman perimeter without electricity.
When the power first went out and emergency lights came on, ushers were sent down the hall to let patrons know the situation. Some left and some waited.
After 20 to 30 minutes, “we made a judgment call,” Alesi said. “We evacuated the building.” Patrons were given rain checks to return to see a movie in its entirety.
One manager at a first floor shop learned that a transformer had failed. She called the owners who told her to close early. Starbucks appeared to be in the process of opting for a similar decision when around 8 p.m., illumination returned.
It did not take long after that for Pullman minglers to form a line at the Marquee box office, despite “power outage” signs.
Marquee was the first business to open at Pullman. Alesi , who has been with the company since the opening, could not recall such a lengthy outage that affected all the Square.
Prior to the Pullman outage, lights flicked off then returned on Fourth Avenue. The Huntington Fire Department responded to an alarm at the St. James Building.
The theatre resumed showing movies with the nine o’clock shows. Starbucks and Five Guys and Empire Books re-opened, but from a survey of dark businesses most of the others took the remainder of Friday evening off.
Across from Pullman, the Marshall alumni week official opening at the Culinary Institute remained in progress. The lights on the south side of Third Avenue were not affected.
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