Fiona Bean is back in business after fire

Grants Pass, Ore — Three women in Grants Pass share a dream, but that dream was nearly shattered by a fire earlier this year.

Now they’re back after they almost lost everything.

On First Friday in Grants Pass businesses in and around downtown open their doors to the public at night with a festive feel.

For one business First Friday has an extra special meaning after months of uncertainty.

“Thank you, you saved our business and we’re so happy to be back,” said Julie Tyrrell, owner of Fiona Bean Quirky Elegance.

Merchandise on the shelves, top quality clothes on the racks, Fiona Bean is back in business.

“Home decor, gifts, jewelry,” said Tyrrell, setting out merchandise in advance of the store’s reopening.

It’s the little boutique that could, but for the three friends that run ‘Fiona Bean Quirky Elegance’, a fire in July nearly destroyed their dream.

“It’s one of our hazard areas for sure, because of the old construction lots of cracks in the mortar, places fire can creep, and that’s what was happening,” said Grants Pass Firefighter Ray Dirling.

“By the time we got here, about ten minutes later the fire trucks were here and there was smoke billowing out the top,” said Tyrrell.

An electrical fire in the century old building could have ruined everything, but the Grants Pass Fire Department made sure that wouldn’t happen. Along with help from the community, thousands of dollars worth of merchandise was saved.

“In about ten minutes the firemen went in and had armloads of clothing, they grabbed fixtures and just made a chain going out the back door,” said Tyrrell.

Several months later, Fiona Bean is re-opening it’s doors because of those who never look for a thank you but deserve one anyway.

Fiona Bean Quirky Elegance is open for Grants Pass’ First Friday and 10am to 5pm Monday through Saturday.

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Matt Jordan is the Chief Meteorologist for KOBI-TV NBC5. Matt joined the NBC5 weather team in 2014 after a year as a reporter and anchor in Alexandria, Louisiana. His experience with the severe weather of the Deep South and a love of the Pacific Northwest led him to pursue a certification with Mississippi State University as a Broadcast Meteorologist. You can find Matt working in the evenings of NBC5 News at 5, 6 and 11 as well as online. Matt also has a degree in Journalism from the University of Oregon. In addition to being passionate about news and weather, Matt is a BIG Oregon Ducks fan. When not rooting for the Ducks or tracking down the next storm over the Pacific, Matt can be found outdoors in the Oregon wilderness with his wife, his daughter and their dogs Stanley and Gordi.
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