After a building in downtown Frederick caught fire, business owner Maria Peck had to fetch parts for her beloved boutique, but she wasn’t alone.
On Monday, friends pulled salvageable items from the rubble at Tiara Day on the corner of North Market and West Second Street. The building, which also housed an apartment building and a record exchange next door, caught fire Wednesday night. The cause is under investigation.
A few days later, a layer of grime covered Tiara Dei. The smell of smoke remained.
Peck said the fire started on the second floor, but it was mainly water that damaged the business below. With approximately 1,600 square feet of retail space, she sold antiques, jewelry, used and brand new clothing, stationery and trinkets.
According to Peck, some of her items date from the 1800s.
“It’s a devastating loss,” Peck said as he stood inside the shop Monday afternoon.
The handkerchiefs on display were wilted, mannequin arms sat piled up on the floor, the counters were dotted with gray spots, and the warped ceiling had holes in it. The doll’s head — known as Strange Tiara Day — lay on the shelf.
Tiara Day joined Frederick in 2009 after stints in Leesburg, Virginia and Kensington, Montgomery County. Peck estimates that it took her 25 years to collect the various pieces.
“I took two jobs to make it happen,” Peck said. “I’ve never felt unwilling to go to work.”
She is grateful that no one was hurt in the fire, but is deeply hurt by the loss of the storefront. She sympathizes with residents who lost their pets and homes in the fire.
In Peck’s case, the fire damaged where she built the connection. She said that the heart of Tiara Day is relationships with people.
An online fundraiser collects donations for businesses and residents affected by the fire.
“I couldn’t believe how many people there were. [who] They’ve reached out to me,” Peck said. “My heart is full of it.”
On Sunday, about a dozen volunteers and staff helped owner Sam Lock clean up The Record Exchange. A person brought out a box of his CDs to retrieve and all the cases were wet inside.
The ceiling had partially collapsed. The crowd expressed their condolences.
According to its Facebook page, the record exchange will be looking for a new location. In a Facebook post, the business thanked its community for their support.
Locke could not be reached for comment on Monday.
At Tiara Day, Peck was also touched by the people who reached out after the fire. Strangers drove with the cash provided, passers-by stopped to shop sidewalk sales, and friends dropped everything to help clean up. When Peck talked about supporting her Monday, he grabbed her chest.
Behind an orange-and-white striped barricade on the sidewalk, Peck’s friend Johariah Singer cleaned the merchandise pulled from the store. She helped shovel her sludge, clean the surface and take pictures for insurance purposes.
She has known Peck for years and helped paint the store when it opened. The singer said Tiara Day is a shopper’s destination.
“Everyone would want her back,” Singer said.
Former Frederick mayor Jennifer Dougherty, who owns Magoo’s Pub & Eatery, brought food and drink to Peck and her helpers across the street. Peck hugged her.
Dougherty said the business owner doesn’t want Peck to go through what he’s faced, so he wants to support his friend.
“That’s what makes Frederick great,” Dougherty said. “People will participate.”
Longtime customer Rebecca Duke Wiesenberg was managing sidewalk sales outside the store on Monday. Unharmed items were for sale, including candles, bath fizz, and clothing.
Duke Wiesenberg credits Peck with helping her find her style, dressing her for interviews and events over the years.
Small queues began to form as pedestrians stopped to shop or pay their respects.
“The community cares about Maria,” said Duke Wiesenberg.
Peck scrolled through her phone trying to remember the names of everyone who had helped her, including local businesses that provided space for storage and pop-up sales. I want everyone to know if there is.
A love of community and passion for her business drives Peck forward. She plans to reopen, preferably in downtown Frederick.
“Dry the tiara and carry on,” Peck said. “Tiaraday shines again.”
72 Hours editor Lauren LaRocca contributed to this article.
Follow Mary Grace Keller on Twitter.
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