Six months after a fire displaced one downtown Jefferson City business and left smoke damage at another, the latter has renovated and repaired to expand to both spaces.
Carrie's Hallmark Shop, at 117 E. High St., has opened its new store expansion at the former site of Hair Plaza, 123 E. High St.
The April 12 fire started inside next-door Hair Plaza, which has since relocated to a store on Missouri Boulevard. Both stores sustained smoke damage.
"What we originally thought was a terrible situation after the fire, has turned out to be a beautiful new space, and we appreciate all our customers for being so patient over the last six months as we've been going through this transition from a disaster to a wonderful new space," said Hallmark store owner Carrie Tergin. "It's a huge, beautiful open space."
The gift shop has knocked out the wall between the two spaces and renovated the expanded space after repairing fire damage. The store's main entrance has been moved to the side of the expansion.
"We also incorporated some of the character of the old downtown buildings," Tergin said, noting the expansion features a silver-tin ceiling and some hard-surface floors rather than carpet alone.
"We also added a granite bar top that we can use for sampling some of the treats that we sell," she added. "We've always done sampling. ... Now we have a space where it's inviting and we'll be set up specifically for sampling."
The store's wide selection of greeting cards, gift wrap and fashion merchandise, as well as the checkout area, have been moved into the expansion. The former location of the cash register in the original space will be converted to a personalization and engraving station early next year.
More space means room for new products, so Carrie's Hallmark Shop has added a few including the Vera Bradley line of handbags and YETI brand of insulated tumblers.
"A lot of our stuff is just shifting, and that allows for us now to have larger space for our baby, sport and home decor items in the previous space," Tergin said. "We'll be bringing in several more things probably right after the holidays."
Chinese cuisine coming up in Old Munichburg
Red Sky Chinese Bistro will offer another dining option in the Old Munichburg area when it opens for business next week.
The restaurant will serve traditional Chinese food at 112 E. Dunklin St., the former location of Shep's Southside Restaurant, which closed in early 2014.
Jenny Shao, owner of Red Sky, said she has worked in Chinese restaurants in various capacities for several years, and this is the first time she's had a restaurant of her own.
"It's just now the right time," Shao said.
Red Sky will be open for lunch and dinner serving a menu of entrees, appetizers and soups, with daily lunch specials. The restaurant is set up for quick service during the lunch hour, with customers ordering and receiving their meals at the cash register, then eating in or taking it to go.
"They can take more time to enjoy their lunch here, but we serve it very fast," Shao said.
Keeping with its name, inside the restaurant is painted a deep red color and decorated with mementos from different regions of China.
"I want to introduce customers to some Chinese culture," Shao said. "I want to make something that people might never see here."
Red Sky Chinese Bistro will be open from 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. for lunch and 4:30-9 p.m. for dinner Mondays through Saturdays, and will be closed on Sundays.
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