Vintage market starts fresh after devastating fire

Published 11:14 pm Saturday, April 20, 2013

The fire’s wrath was swift and unforgiving.

Vendors at the Spare Room Vintage Flea Market lost their livelihood in the three-alarm blaze on Nov. 8 at the historic McCrossen Building in downtown Everett.

“We were so devastated,” vendor Nicolette Sigler said.

Still, she knew they were lucky compared to the upstairs tenants who lost their homes and worse: One man died.

Sigler decided to start over. She recruited vendors to set up shop in her new store, Home Inspirations, a few block away at 1502 Hewitt Ave.

“We like to think of it as rising out of the ashes,” she said. “We were looking for a name and we thought we should call it the Phoenix, but it was taken. We had to start a new business and buy new inventory. One person had insurance.”

That person wasn’t her.

“I got a business loan,” said Sigler, who now has insurance.

Home Inspirations opened March 1. A grand opening celebration with snacks will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. April 26 and 27.

The store has goods from 35 vendors, nine of whom are from the Spare Room, Sigler said.

“It has everything from the 1700s to today,” she said. “Home decor items is what we focus on. If we can make your house look pretty or smell pretty or be prettier, that’s what we want.”

The airy, brick-walled structure has 6,400 square feet of art, jewelry, lamps, linens and other trappings of civilization. Items range from a $6 metal mermaid hook to an elegant 1790s French sideboard for $5,750.

The sideboard is from Sigler’s Lake Stevens home.

“My hallway is empty,” she said. “I have a lamp that sits on the floor.”

The leased building originally housed the Grand Leader department store back in the era before big box stores and malls prevailed. Lately, it was a sports training facility.

“Their lease was up,” said landlord Karen Staniford, who operates the Vintage Cafe next door. “The fire happened and Nicolette happened. So all is good. This is what I always wanted it to be in this space. This has always been my dream.”

Staniford is also a vendor in the new store.

“The response from Everett has been awesome,” Sigler said. “We have been busy since we opened our doors.”

The doors are open to curious creatures big and small.

“You can bring your dogs in,” Sigler told a window shopper with two poodles in tow. “Pets are welcome.”