Firefighters battle a blaze Nov. 17 on South Saint Asaph Street. Three women-owned businesses sustained significant damage and have been forced to close.
The Alexandria Fire Marshal's Office is investigating the cause of a fire that damaged three women-owned businesses Nov. 17 on the 100 block of South Saint Asaph Street.
Madame Coco’s Emporium and Everything Chocolate, Friends to Lovers Bookstore and Little Birdie’s Home and Gifts were all heavily damaged by the blaze that broke out late Sunday evening.
The Friends to Lovers Bookstore had just celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon cutting the previous day.
Owner Jamie Fortin said that the building and inventory sustained extensive smoke damage and that the current space will not be operational for at least the remainder of this year “and likely longer.”
“This morning, I was able to tour the store and assess the damage more closely,” Fortin said in a Nov. 19 update to a GoFundMe page she has set up. “Sadly, it looks like none of our books or merchandise will be safe to sell, and therefore we have raised our fundraising goal to $45,000.”
It is unclear if Fortin will reopen in the existing space or relocate.
“As most of you know, we are committed to working with small, women-owned businesses and uplifting local/indie authors,” Fortin said. “We also staff five booksellers who I am determined to keep employed, and a talented social media manager who I credit with F2L’s incredible online presence. Funds raised during this process will be integral to ensuring F2L can maintain the people and culture we know and love while also recovering from significant losses related to the fire.”
Shanlee Johnson, owner of Little Birdie’s, also was able to assess the damage and said that nothing was salvageable from her boutique.
“Our merchandise, much of it designed with love and care in-house, was destroyed and our building will not be usable for the foreseeable future,” said Johnson, who has also set up a GoFundMe page.
Madame Coco’s owner Meshelle Armstrong said in an Instagram post, “We are shaken by the losses, not just of our own space but of the incredible women-owned businesses that were also impacted. Though the damage is immense, our spirits remain rooted in hope and resilience. Together we will rebuild.”
The fire continues to be under investigation.