Three Local Businesses Find Homes in Bethel After Fire

 A fire in the ceiling of Bethel Upholstery, at 270 Greenwood, was extinguished in a relatively short time - a little more than an hour. However, the effects on the upholstery business and three others in the commercial building will be felt for months.                                    

Bethel Upholstery is relocating permanently to 29 Federal Road, Danbury. Pretty Little Things, Tri-Star Graphics, and Willows Massage & Wellness Center have found temporary quarters nearby, in Bethel, and plan to return to their old space once rehabilitation is complete, in six months or more.                      

Pretty Little Things, a woman’s consignment shop, is relocating to 269 Greenwood, next to Bethel Cinema.  The past year has been a roller coaster for owner Shannon Anderson. “We opened December 4, 2019, closed early March due to Covid, reopened July 24, then plumbing problems flooded our basement, we lost power early August because of Tropical Storm Isais, and in September closed for one week for renovations,” she said. “Then the October fire hit.” She lost inventory because of smoke and water damage, although some was salvageable. Friends are handwashing certain items, and Frank Magliocco, of Superior Cleaners in Bethel, has offered her a discount on dry cleaning. Anderson is grateful for the support of her family and the Bethel community, which she says “boosted me up to start over.”   She hopes to reopen in late November.                                                                                        

Jim Hansen’s Tri-Star Graphics, which creates signs and does screen printing, embroidery and engraving for promotional merchandise, has a nearby production facility, at 264 Greenwood, where the business is now consolidated. Water damage from the fire caused the loss of his showroom and its equipment, including embroidering equipment, a vinyl cutting system and computers. “We will be a bit cramped with having to combine everything into one space,” Hansen said. “But we are going to make do here until the store is rebuilt, especially since it is so close.” Hansen started Tri-Star Graphics in 1989 from his house in Danbury and has been in Bethel since the late 1990s. 

Willows Massage & Wellness Center reopened pretty much across the street, at 251 Greenwood, on November 3, once it got the necessary Health Department approvals. “I work with people with chronic pain, so we really hustled to get opened up again,” said owner Lori Mikell, a licensed massage therapist. On staff are Cherrie Sludock, a licensed esthetician, who does facials, waxing and makeup. In the entrance room is Under the Crystal Moon, run by Debbie Wissell, Mikell’s sister-in-law, which features crystals, handmade jewelry and candles. “Because we went from 2,000 square feet to 1,100, there was not enough room for Dr. Russell Caram, chiropractic physician,” said Mikell. “He is now at 182 Grassy Plain.”

Photo 1: Shannon Anderson will reopen Pretty Little Things next to Bethel Cinema.

Photo 2: Jim Hansen's Tri-Star Graphics is now consolidated at his 264 Greenwood facility.

Photo 3: Lori Mikell (left), owner of Willows Massage & Wellness, and Debbie Wissell are now at 251 Greenwood.