An April 12 fire that could have fueled disaster for a downtown Jefferson City gift shop ended up offering the business an opportunity for growth.
"I literally had the thought as I was watching smoke pour out of the door, "This is the end of Carrie's Hallmark,' not knowing the extent of the damage, not knowing if our store had caught on fire," said owner Carrie Tergin. "After they moved out, we realized there was this opportunity that we were just completely not expecting."
The fire started in next-door business Hair Plaza at 123 E. High St., which sustained severe fire damage. Carrie's Hallmark experienced some smoke-damaged ceilings and required professionally cleaning a fair amount of inventory.
Since Hair Plaza has relocated to a store on Missouri Boulevard, Carrie's Hallmark will expand into the High Street space to create a "more boutique-type atmosphere," Tergin said.
"My goal is to make it the biggest, best Hallmark store you've ever seen," she added.
The extra space will allow Carrie's Hallmark to better departmentalize its inventory, with a focus on broadening the kitchen, outdoor, pro sports memorabilia, fashion and baby/children's departments. The store will also add a new personalization option for engraved plaques and other personalized gift items.
"Now in gifts, people really want that personalized touch, so we're trying to find ways to incorporate that into this new expansion of our store," Tergin said.
Currently the construction crew is tearing out the old ceiling and demolishing the wall between the current Carrie's Hallmark and former Hair Plaza space. Other considerations will include repainting the storefront to make the two spaces appear as one building.
Tergin estimates the expansion will be complete around early fall of this year.
"We'll be ready for the holiday shopping season," she said.
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