From Wendy Owens:
It was on Monday, April 14. I was on my way down to SC to visit my family. I decided to stop by my shop R3MiX3D to gather some things before getting on the road. I thought I was seeing things on my way down to 498 Merrimon Ave in Asheville. Unfortunately, I was not! My business burned down early that morning. I was in shock. I called my boyfriend Stephen. He came, and we quickly realized the reality together. I thank the ALL THAT IS with ALL MY HEART my friends and neighbors upstairs Cory and Garret got out alive.
My boutique and commUNITY DIY space lost everything I owned that was in that business. The things I could salvage were my crystal (that is charred but intact), crystal singing bowls a few CDs and all of my contacts that were in a drawer.
All of my inventory, art, the unique vintage and modern clothes and jewelry were in a rainbow pile of soot with 100s of crystals scattered all over the floor. We were able to get a lot of the crystals out but 100s more are on the floor at this time. The building is condemned, so we can’t enter unless we have a fireman escort and landlord present.
The Moog, Korg melted. Sound equipment beyond repair. However the first piece of music equipment my boyfriend and I ever built together was salvageable. I had memoirs, pics and other countless one-of-a-kind things that are all gone in ashes.
My customers were a diverse demographic and ranged from 8 years to 80. There was something for everyone at my space on Merrimon. We were a grassroots business that thrived off the local college, Asheville locals and tourists. I was becoming a destination for North Asheville.
During the day we operated as a vintage, up-cycle and modern boutique and also sold amazing crystals. At night we also hosted music events, workshops, including “Evolver Asheville” and “The Asheville Synth Jam” and other commUNITY gatherings for ALL AGES.
I was very grateful in my heart when a young girl that at the time could have been an angel showed up and looked me in the eyes. She spoke nothing. She handed me daffodils and ran off. I knew I could rebuild my dream after seeing her.
The commUNITY and my friends are asking me what am I going to do next. People want to help me reestablish and I do as well. I have had musicians and venues offer me time and space to host fund raisers. I will R3S33D this vision. The wonderful, beautiful people in my North Asheville and Asheville neighborhood came over to hug my neck, give me encouragement and show support. There are several people that want to do a fundraiser for me. I even had a stranger give me $100. My wonderful friends and extended family have been amazing!
Unfortunately I do not have insurance for my loss.
I still want to be on Merrimon near UNCA or close by in the downtown area.
I took my walks to the University of North Carolina Asheville botanical gardens everyday!I will pursue the little funky unique boutique and ALL AGE, DIY audio visual space somewhere else.I have lost my building and my inventory but my dream is BIGGER than ever!
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