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Replacing the Irreplaceable: Antique Shop Owner Describes Fire
Replacing the Irreplaceable: Antique Shop Owner Describes Fire 3/15/13
Jennifer Samp
jsamp@cbs7.com
March 15, 2013
Odessa, TX - Sarah Blea the owner of Shantique’s Collectibles walked through her shop hoping to recover what the fire left behind.
From a 100-year-old buffet from Billy the Kid’s hometown to countless pieces of china.
“We’re just trying to determine if there's anything salvageable,” Blea said.
She says this antique shop runs in the family. Items their grandparents left behind are now lost in ashes forever.
“I have a deeper understanding and sympathy for people who have lost their homes,” she said,” “That is more devastating, but this place was like a home because it was run by my family.”
With most of the store’s belonging destroyed Blea has not decided whether to continue the family business just yet.
From strangers to loyal customers people came by to pay their last respects.
Blea says a store that works hard to preserve history will always be remembered.
“When you have a business that small in the community it's amazing how people really do acknowledge that,” she said.
Investigators believe the fire originated inside the shop.
The businesses next to the building had sustained water, smoke and heat damage.
Investigators do not suspect arson.