PLAINS TOWNSHIP – Managers at the Woodlands Inn and Resort said they are offering their kitchen and dining areas free of charge, to a nearby popular Mexican restaurant forced to close after a fire over the weekend.

Woodlands General Manager Rick Kronfeld told Newswatch 16 that he called the owners of La Tolteca in Wilkes-Barre Township and offered free use of the resort kitchen and dining areas, after finding out that the restaurant would be closed for weeks of repairs, after a dumpster fire spread to the roof.

“It’s devastating to not only the revenue and the income, but also the employees. They would lose a big, big night for them,” said Kornfeld. “If the shoe was on the other foot, I would want somebody to help or staff our business as well.”

HANOVER TOWNSHIP – After 68 years of manufacturing commercial refrigerators at Penn Refrigeration, auctioneers sold off the remaining equipment and replacement parts left inside the shuttered plant on Thursday morning.

Nearly 40 employees were laid off from the plant last November and the commercial refrigerator maker close down a short time later.

Jerry Gillis told Newswatch 16 that he was excited to purchase parts at a discounted price, but he was disappointed to see another family-owned business shut down.

“I have auctionitis. I love going to auctions. I`m retired. I love going to auctions, picking up equipment, take it home to my shop, play around with it and fix it up,” said Gillis. “It`s a shame. Where are the jobs? Everything`s going, its bad. Younger generations, I don`t know where they’re going to find jobs at. I don`t know.”

WILKES-BARRE TOWNSHIP — After more than 100 years in business, another iconic store in the Wilkes-Barre area is shutting its doors for good. Kaplan’s Furniture on Mundy Street is going out of business.

The store has been David Mayers’ life for the past 37 years.

“I think I remember when he was a little boy,” Mayers told a customer.

He’s one of the co-owners of Kaplan’s Furniture near Wilkes-Barre, but now, he said he’s ready to take a break.

“At this point, we have no one really that wants to take over the business, and I’m retiring and reaching retirement age at 62, and I’m ready to get out,” said David Mayers.

So after three generations and more than 100 years in business, Kaplan’s on Mundy Street is closing.