12/20/2025
Hi everyone. This post is fairly long and I apologize ahead of time. I wanted to finally give an update on the store after the fire early Monday morning. The most serious damage is to the front porch area that is closed in on the first floor. Most of the balance of the first floor has extreme heat, smoke and water damage, including my Dad’s former office. There is extensive smoke and water damage to the basement level. The second level (top floor and mostly storage area for the last 57 years) had the least amount of damage. Contrary to other posts, there are not and have never been apartments on that level. There is also smoke and some water damage to the Live Well Be Well studio at the rear of the building next to the garage. Unfortunately, anyone who has had a fire knows the smoke smell is very difficult to remove. Now that the building has been secured, the process to begin the cleaning out and sifting through the ashes and rubble will begin in the next couple of weeks. All ceilings on the first floor are gone, fallen or pulled down to make sure there was no fire traveling above them. My hardest part will be searching for any remnants of my family history in Dad’s old office. Fingers are crossed that the integrity of the front of the building is not compromised and can be replaced/rebuilt. Store stock can be replaced. My employees are safe. My heart is broken with what happened but will heal.
Thank you to everyone who has called, texted, messaged, emailed, and commented on the fire and our well being. I think I’ve managed to acknowledge all of them, and I know I didn’t get to all comments on my early post on Monday. My apologies if I missed anyone. I am overwhelmed with the outpouring of assistance to help in any way. But there are rules that must be followed in the insurance and rebuilding process. Priority right now is to get the building back to usable and safe condition.
Thank you again for all of the love and support you have shown to me and my guys - Tyler, Steven, Robert, Al and Kirk. I love you all💚
And if anyone is interested in a 2026 Falkenhounds calendar, a box of them survived the fire (with a bit of smoke smell) and are still available at $25 with ALL money going to Animal Allies Rescue Foundation and the EV Cares Fund for low income pet owners. Cash or Venmo.
Thank you,
Deb Falkenhan
