Another June 8 fire casualty: ‘All my Jellycats — everything — is gone’
When Beau Monde Spa & Boutique suffered a June 8 fire, the spa and its sister business, Aesthetic Solutions, got all the attention, but another business was damaged, too.
In fact, when firefighters arrived to the early-morning blaze at Comotara, at 29th North and Rock Road, they thought it actually began in Imagine That Toys because there was so much smoke inside the business.
“It finds every little crevice and hole throughout the building,” said Imagine That owner Gwen Ottenberg.
“All the smoke and soot lands on everything. . . . You can’t wash it off because it’s oil,” she said.
“All my Jellycats — everything — is gone.”
Her insurance company took away the entirety of her merchandise, which was fine, Ottenberg said.
“I don’t have to worry about selling something to a kid that they’re going to snuggle with.”
Initially, Ottenberg put a note on her website saying she hoped to be back open within a week, though she acknowledged it could take longer.
“Little did I know. It’s my first fire.”
Even though it’s been an unexpected, difficult experience, Ottenberg said she’s “trying to make the very best of the situation.”
“Hopefully, I’m going to get better stuff.”
Ottenberg said she now has a chance to rearrange the shop to expand what was working well and discontinue items that weren’t. She also plans to add more play tables.
Stocking is a bit of an issue, however.
“Things are definitely on back order,” Ottenberg said.
She said the tariff situation is creating problems, with some manufacturers no longer creating or sending some items due to tariffs.
Ottenberg said customers shouldn’t worry because immediately following the fire she reached out to her most-popular brands, such as Lego and Jellycat, and she said they put back merchandise for her for when the store is ready.
“They’ve worked fabulously with us.”
So when will the store reopen?
“I’d love to have an answer to that,” Ottenberg said.
She said she’ll keep us posted.
In the meantime, she said she’s working on keeping her attitude positive.
“It all starts with me.”
Ottenberg said she’s been thinking of all her memories from almost two decades of owning the store.
“It’s never going to be the same.”
She quickly added a positive spin.
“It’s just going to be different memories.”
