Fire victims are reacting after two of the four people charged in connection with the Campus Court Plaza arson case in Waterloo pleaded guilty.

William Schneider and Daniel Campbell submitted the guilty pleas in a Kitchener court on Thursday.

Schneider was sentenced to eight years while Campbell was sentenced to seven years in prison.

Sean Safa, the defence lawyer for Campbell, says he believes the sentence is reasonable. He adds that the arson was related to drug debts.

The two men were reportedly just targeting the nightclub in the complex to pay off the debt, but the fire spread.

The April 2010 the blaze ended up causing $4.5 million in damage, destroying seven businesses and leaving more than 100 people out of work.

The owners of several of the businesses destroyed say the sentences don't match what they have lost.

Jerry Smith, owner of Mel's Diner, says "I've spent 16 years building that business and to have it all disappear in one night and somebody gets half of that as a sentence for burning it all down, just doesn't seem like justice."

Kevin Chung of Mr. Sushi says "I have a dream to [come to] Canada in 2002, I wanted better circumstances and better education for my children but the fire took all my dreams now."

Benny Afrouzi once ran his optician business, Campus Eyes, in a 4,000 sq. ft. space at the Campus Court Plaza and had six employees.

After having to start all over, he now uses a 700 sq. ft. space and has just one employee.

"When you work 22 years and you basically put these pieces together and then basically just when it's starting to pay for itself, then everything just disappears."

The fire victims still have hope that the plaza will be rebuilt and their businesses can return, but the work on insurance settlements continues.

"I will build that Mel's. I've looked at, and come close to, rebuilding in other locations as well. It just never felt right," Smith says.

Two other people still face charges in connection with the fire. Lyntje Zinger and Brent Campbell are both out on bail.