After the fire, Marcal Paper back in business in Elmwood Park (updated)

Linda Lindner//January 31, 2020

A year and a day after a fire gutted the paper-making operation in Bergen County, Marcal on Jan. 31 commemorated the official restart of its Elmwood Park facility.

“One year ago, we saw the damage from the fire that struck our mill,” said Marcal CEO Rob Baron. “Governor Murphy said this is a community and a company that has an extraordinary spirit. Governor, you were right.”

Gov. Phil Murphy attended the re-opening ceremony. He noted that the state helped displaced workers apply for unemployment benefits. “I cannot believe it has been one year,” Murphy said. “I am proud of the hands my administration has lent.”

Peter Marcalus, the grandson of Marcal Paper founder Nicholas Marcalus, worked at Marcal Paper for 25 years. “On Jan. 30, 2019, my wife and I were leaving a parking garage in New York and a friend called me to say firefighters were battling a fire at Marcal,” Marcalus said. “There has been a tremendous amount of progress. The rubble has been cleared away.”

Spencer Savings Bank donated $30,000 to benefit those affected by the Marcal Paper Plant fire that took place earlier this year in January. $25,000 went to employees while a $5,000 donation was also made toward an Elmwood Park PTO‑coordinated brunch to honor first responders. SSB has its headquarters in Elmwood Park, the same town the Marcal mill was located in.

The event was held to thank all those whose support and assistance aided in the manufacturing company’s recovery.

U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, whose district includes Elmwood Park, called Marcal Paper a reflection of what America is all about. “Marcal is going to be better than ever,” Pascrell said. “This is not a bumper sticker. We are putting people back to work. When we work together, we can do anything. We salute the working people of this country here today. We are thankful for a governor who appreciates what the whole gestalt is about. This is America.”

U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, D-9-N.J., called Marcal Paper a reflection of what America is all about, citing unions and steelworkers.
“Marcal is going to be better than ever,” Pascrell said. “This is not a bumper sticker. We are putting people back to work. When we work together, we can do anything. We salute the working people of this country here today. We are thankful for a governor who appreciates what the whole gestalt is about. This is America.”

The Jan. 30, 2019 fire left destroyed 400,000 square feet of manufacturing space and left 500 people unemployed. The re-opening is bringing 100 jobs back and the company said that as operations develop it should can regain all of the positions it lost a year ago.

David Hutter contributed to this report.

This article was updated at 1:20 p.m. EST on Jan. 31, 2020 to add remarks from executives and officials who attended the re-opening ceremony.