Resolution AV, a longtime Brooklyn integrator and high-end audio retailer, is facing the aftermath of a devastating five-alarm fire that tore through its Red Hook headquarters, showroom, and warehouse on Sept. 17. The blaze, which burned for more than 24 hours and required fireboats to pump water into the 150-year-old structure, left the company’s 7,500-square-foot space heavily damaged and waterlogged.
For founder and principal Adam Wexler, the scope of the destruction is still sinking in.
“It’s a complete and total loss,” Wexler says. “No one ever plans for a complete and total loss.”
A Second Major Blow
Resolution AV has been based in Red Hook for most of its 17 years, surviving one catastrophic event already when Hurricane Sandy destroyed its waterfront ground-floor space in 2012. Wexler says the memory of that disaster pushed him to secure a safer home upstairs in the same historic warehouse complex that also houses several other businesses, art studios, and more.
The company made the move upstairs about two years ago. Since then, Resolution AV has been “doing gangbusters,” Wexler says.
The new facility was more than just offices and a warehouse. According to Wexler, the company invested in building out a listening room that became a destination for hi-fi enthusiasts across Brooklyn and Manhattan.
“We built out this 7,500 square foot space from scratch with an empty warehouse. And at that point, I wanted to include high-end hi-fi sales as well, because those are my roots,” he says.
But the September fire erased much of that progress. After initially appearing under control, the blaze reignited with greater intensity, requiring hours of soaking from fireboats. All told, the building was on fire for over 24 hours and was hit with several rounds of drenching from fire engines and boats.
“I was able to see on our security cameras inside that we were, like, pretty dry. Just a little water on the floor, and I was like, okay… we might make this,” Wexler says. “And then the fire just raged up again… and just drenched the whole freaking building for another, like, 12 hours.”
Preserving Projects and People
Despite the loss of the showroom and warehouse, Wexler emphasizes that Resolution AV’s integration projects remain secure. The company had about 40 active jobs at the time of the fire, ranging from $300,000 to $1 million, and Wexler says orders have already been re-staged.
With strong financial reserves and a continuing cashflow, the company is actively in business and completing work.
“It’s still not the type of cash flow you need to rebuild something that took two years to build,” Wexler says.
With rebuilding now slated to be a long-term process, Wexler’s focus has shifted to protecting his employees, many of which have been with the company since its beginning. Touting his company’s benefits packages and profit-sharing program, Wexler says keeping everyone busy and employed is his top priority.
“We take care of everybody well, and that’s been a big key to our success,” Wexler says.
Industry and Community Support
Resolution AV has already seen an outpouring of offers from manufacturers and partners. Some are expediting orders, while others have pledged to help evaluate or replace equipment. Wexler cited Lutron, DeVore Fidelity, Nagra, and others as stepping in to offer support while Wexler navigates insurance claims and takes inventory of what was destroyed.
Competitors in the local market have also reached out to offer what they can, but the real needs are tangible assets.
“We need space and product,” Wexler says.
Looking Ahead
Even with insurance and community support, the road back will not be easy. The company’s warehouse stored irreplaceable hi-fi collectibles alongside its integration stock. Some items may still be salvageable, but much of it will be lost to water and mold damage.
For Wexler, the key is staying focused on the relationships that sustained the business for nearly two decades. He is also drawing on his experience rebuilding from when Hurricane Sandy destroyed his company’s space more than a dozen years ago.
“We were knocked down, but I came back and grew tenfold,” Wexler says. “I believe that will be the case again.”
The company has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover costs not addressed by insurance, including remediation, relocation, and employee support.
