MILFORD, Del. - Not Too Shabby is known for it's floral arrangements and re-purposed furniture, but Tuesday night the "pop and pop" lost almost everything in a fire. The Delaware State Fire Marshal estimates damages at $80,000 and says no one was hurt.
The State Fire Marshal says the fire started around 7:30 p.m. and that the store was closed. The Carlisle Fire Company quickly arrived to find smoke coming from the front door of the store. Houston, Slaughter Beach, and Ellendale Fire Companies came to help and firefighters had the blaze under control at 8:40 pm. Sussex County Paramedics stood by at the scene.
Not Too Shabby's owner, Don Vaughan says he and co-owner Bill Payton spent four to five hours watching as the building burned. "We had a large amount of community members that showed up with hugs and jackets and warm cups of hot cocoa and coffee," he says.
"I got a couple of phone calls from some friends who told me the building was on fire," says family member Nikki Quillen. "I rushed over there and the building was fully in flames."
Quillen was among local business owners and other Milfordians who met at West Side Restaurant Wednesday morning to come up with a plan to help.
"We're trying to help them raise funds in the next two days," says Quillen. "That way they can go up to Pennsylvania and purchase the home decor they purchased Monday."
Representative Bryan Shupe says Don and Bill have helped others before and now it's time to help them.
"Our community is making sure that we get behind them as local business owners and as representatives from local governments, and also just as friends and family, making sure they have the money they need to get back in business as quick as possible," says Representative Shupe.
Downtown Milford, Inc. and Lifecycle are co-hosting a fundraisng event on Facebook to raise money for Not Too Shabby's emergent needs.
The business was coming up on a two-year anniversary. Don and Bill had the shop stocked full for an open house on Saturday. The plan is for the two business owners to still hold their event along with Abbott's Mill Nature Center at its holiday market, which is also scheduled for this Saturday.
"You can make wreaths and you can sip hot chocolate," says Owner of Lifecycle Jenn Rowan. "They will be selling goods that businesses in Downtown Milford have gathered so that can continue with their open house as planned."
In the meantime Not Too Shabby is doing business the best it can. Don and Bill had plans to deliver floral arrangements to a funeral Wednesday afternoon.
"Our kitchen is a flower shop," says Vaughan. "It's flowers and buckets of water and scissors all over."
Vaughan says the next step is to try to find another space in Milford that can accommodate Not Too Shabby.
Donations can be dropped off at Downtown Milford, Inc. or Lifecycle. Click here for a link to the fundraiser.
