EVERETT — Ernie and Cindy Frederickson consider themselves fortunate to have so much moral support from family, friends, customers and even competitors after their flower shop burned down in a suspicious fire Aug. 6.
Fo
r now, there is nothing anyone can do but wait.
Their days have been filled with a steady flow of paperwork and meetings with insurance adjusters, building engineers and city officials. They are eager to rebuild their Everett Floral shop in the 4500 block of Evergreen Way. It has been their business for 23 years.
“So far what we know is it will open in late fall if everything goes well,” she said.
Much will depend on an engineering report, which will assess structural issues such as how much damage has been done to beams.
Detectives are calling the fire suspicious. Investigators believe a dumpster fire two blocks away from the shop also likely was intentionally set around the same time. No one has been arrested in connection with either fire.
Damage to the flower shop is estimated at $200,000, Everett fire marshal Rick Robinson said.
“It’s still under investigation,” Robinson said.
One of the delivery vans was tagged with graffiti sometime during the night of the fire. A witness reported seeing a group of juveniles in the area that evening.
Frederickson hopes someone will come forward with information that will help police solve the case.
“We will feel so much better then,” she said.
The Fredericksons have devoted more than two decades establishing loyal customers. During that time, the longest they had been away from their business was a week-long vacation to Hawaii.
That work ethic is part of the reality of running a business, Cindy Frederickson said.
“There is really nothing we can do,” she said. “It’s very hard not to be in control.”
Anyone with information about the fire can call the Everett police tipline at 425-257–8450.
Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446, stevick@heraldnet.com.
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