By Fallan Patterson
Staff Writer

The smell of charred wood permeated the air near Ella’s What Not Shop and The SHOP Saint Cloud on New York Avenue in downtown St. Cloud Wednesday, an olfactory reminder of the electrical fire that gutted the stores in a 112-year-old building over Memorial Day weekend.

With plywood covering the broken front windows and glass doors and the electricity shut off, the owners of the two shops used flashlights Wednesday to search through soot-covered remains to find salvageable antiques and merchandise.

Just three weeks ago, in a soft opening, Lori DeLeon, owner of Ella’s What Not Shop, joined forces with Lake Nona moms Christine Tibolla and Monika Gargagliano to expand the shopping space and include The SHOP. Both stores specialize in antiques, clothing and gifts, each with their own twist.

They were planning for a June 8 grand opening.

“It worked. It was our two best weeks ever. A lot of new people were coming in, they were raving, just loving it,” DeLeon said. “After two years of building this business, it was coming to fruition, and now it’s not.”

DeLeon was in Boca Raton for a graduation and scouting for new merchandise when she got a call Sunday morning from her husband about the fire.

“Of all the things he said, the words I remember are ‘I’m sorry. The shop went on fire,’” she said. “I just went into shock.”

Dee Crittendon, who owns Dance Central School of Dance Arts to the left of the fire-gutted stores, was on the scene at 3:30 a.m. Sunday after receiving a call her studio was possibly on fire.

“We were prepared for bad news,” Crittendon said, adding that a police officer confirmed at 6:30 a.m. her store was left unscathed. “We were very lucky.”

The fire was linked to an faulty extension cord near the front door of Ella’s What Not Shop, according to St. Cloud Fire Rescue Chief Bill Johnston.

“They said there was an extension cord plugged into the wall with nothing plugged into it,” DeLeon said. “It’s an old building. It needs to be totally updated.”

The owners Wednesday carried out chairs, mirrors and jewelry, some in need of a quick wipe down and others that may not survive. DeLeon found an unopened box of delivered textiles completely free of damage.

DeLeon estimated she lost “thousands and thousands” of dollars worth of merchandise, some of which is owned by different vendors. She described her shop as an art and antique mall, with a consignment store element, filled with both new and vintage items.

Gargagliano and Tibolla, who began as a mobile business, had their husbands build custom counters and furniture for their first permanent shop, and used a seamstress to design drapery and cushions.

With more than $15,000 invested in their new business venture, the pair had yet to purchase fire insurance.

“Our accountant told us it’s a decent write off but we’re not going to get it all back,” Tibolla said.

Since the majority of their merchandise is clothing, shoes and accessories, it is unlikely anything would be salvageable, she said.

Despite the heartache and tears, the owners tried to keep a sense of humor.

“We had a little more retro-vintage. We deal in shabby-chic furniture, so maybe (the fire) will add to the shabbiness,” Tibolla said.

Chuck Hodgins, who owns the building built in 1910 on New York Avenue between 10th and 9th Streets, had lined up a salvage and restoration company and spoken to the insurance adjustor by Wednesday.

“We’re moving faster than most people. We want it done right and safely,” he said, adding the firewall was removed during the expansion process. “As old as the buildings are, they’re pretty well built. They meet all code.”

The remodel should be completed by fall, DeLeon said.

Local businesses have offered space for the owners to sell their wares and the three women are considering installing an air-conditioned trailer as a temporary shop until the repairs are complete.

“We started as a mobile unit so we’ll take Lori with us now,” Tibolla said. “We did it before. We can do it again.”

For customers interested in where the stores will be selling and when they will be reopening, follow them on Facebook at Ella’s What Not Shop and TheSHOP Saint Cloud.

If anyone is interested in donating retail space or assisting with the $2,000 set-up cost for the trailer, contact theshoporlando@yahoo.com or ellaswhatnotshop@aol.com.