Business on Jonesboro Square reopens after December fire
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<p class="p1">Janice Newton, owner of From the Heart Flowers and Gifts on the square in Jonesboro, was busy on a Monday afternoon, getting orders ready. </p><p class="p2">Most would say she's busy with Valentine's Day fast approaching, but Monday was also the first day that her business was open since it was damaged by a fire in a neighboring building.</p><p class="p2">A fire broke out in an abandoned building on the square in Jonesboro on Dec. 9, 2015. From the Heart was next door.</p><p class="p2">Newton said she got a knock on her door at 2:30 a.m. from her insurance agent letting her know what was happening. </p><p class="p2">"I was devastated," Newton said. "I wouldn't wish it on anyone."</p><p class="p2">Luckily, several local fire departments stopped the blaze without the surrounding building catching on fire, saving the business she's owned for 12 1/2 years.</p><p class="p2">Newton said that if the fire had been unattended for another 30 minutes, her business would have been burnt beyond repair.</p><p class="p2">From the Heart did sustain some damage from the fire and water which was used by the fire departments to bring the blaze under control.</p><p class="p2">The fire caused cracks in the neighboring walls and there was water in the basement.</p><p class="p2">Newton said they had three dumpsters full of merchandise that they had to dispose of because of the damage.</p><p class="p2">"Anything we could salvage, we boxed up and took to an off-site location," Newton said.</p><p class="p2">Newton and her employees and volunteers finished up her orders for the remainder of that week at her home and then started to focus on repairing her business.</p><p class="p2">Newton paid her employees to help clean up so they wouldn't be without a job. She also reached out to local florists to help fulfill previous orders which had been made and gave them some supplies she had no place to store. She took the opportunity to rearrange the store and to make sure all the repairs were done.</p><p class="p2">Newton said her family, friends, volunteers and employees worked hard to get From the Heart back in business.</p><p class="p2">Minor outside repairs still need to be done, but From the Heart Flowers and Gifts reopened on Jan. 25, with their full services available, just in time for Valentine's Day.</p><p class="p2">From the Heart Flowers and Gifts is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon.</p><p class="p3"> </p>