Marysville Thrift Store Burglarized, Burned; Owner Vows To Rebuild
MARYSVILLE (CBS13) - A Marysville thrift store owner is vowing to rebuild after a burglary, and then a fire at her shop.
Instead of celebrating her one year anniversary of opening, the store owner got a call that her store was burglarized and was on fire.
It's likely nothing will be spared at the Attic Treasures thrift store in Marysville after a New Year's Eve blaze. What fire didn't burn, melted or was smothered with smoke.
"I think between my head and my chest, one or the other is going to explode," owner Bonnie Tedder said.
She says it's all too much to handle. Just hours into 2013, someone burglarized her store, and now police wonder if that same person torched the place.
A games memorabilia business next door escaped the flames, but the owner had to get collector cards and magazines out, so the smoke stench wouldn't ruin them.
"We've been closed for business for a couple of days, and I think we need a week to air out everything," said Jason Murray.
Tedder will lose business too, but it's a lot more than that to her. She gives free clothing and toiletries to the homeless who come by and grants IOU's for those short on cash.
"It's not just my livelihood, there's a whole lot of people in this community that depend on my thrift store to help them make it through the month," said Tedder.
She has a loyal following, but had to turn away several people Wednesday.
"It's burnt, but you saw my sign; I'm going to rebuild," said Tedder.
She has signs posted outside of the store, bold statements that remind everyone she'll be open for business again.
"I have to do it. If I don't rebuild and walk away, whoever did it, they won. I can't let them do that," said Tedder.
On Wednesday, Tedder was posting new signs, but this time they had messages thanking the firemen who worked fast to keep her place from burning all the way to the ground.
Tedder does have surveillance cameras all over the store. However, the thief that broke into the store also stole the DVR that stored all the video.
Between the building damage and the items stolen, Tedder is out about $75,000.
