Snoqualmie community steps up to help 4 women-owned businesses destroyed in fire

A large fire destroyed four women-run businesses in a Historic Snoqualmie retail building early Sunday morning. Now the city is rallying around the business owners to help them rebuild.

Snoqualmie Ice Cream owners Heather Dean and Julie Chung are still processing the news that a fire destroyed part of the building that houses their business.

“As we go into our busy season it's a really devastating loss for us as small business owners. It's a lot,” Chung said.

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The fire was discovered during a routine patrol of the area by a Snoqualmie Police officer. The City of Snoqualmie said the most significant fire damage occurred on the back side of the building. That’s where Chickadee Bakeshop, Snoqualmie Pie Co., and Littlest Wishes Photography were located.

The SnoValley Chamber of Commerce is running a GoFundMe campaign to help raise money for the businesses impacted by the fire. So far, the campaign has exceeded its $50,000 goal by several thousand dollars.

No injuries were reported and Dean said she is thankful. “Five fire agencies responded to us, and it is a dry, 100-year-old business district. They saved the downtown,” she said.

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Though flames did not reach their shop, Chung and Dean lost all of their inventory and equipment.

“The smoke damage is incredible,” Chung said. “There is no way that we can operate. We're kind of thinking that it needs to be a whole remodel down to the studs, and that's going to take time.”

Chung said they are trying to find new employment opportunities for 16 employees who work at the Snoqualmie location.

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