(July 28, 2016) Marc Scher, the third-generation owner of downtown mainstay Scher’s Bridal Shop, opened as a department store by his grandfather in 1933, is picking up exactly where he left off following a fire last month.
On Saturday, June 11 at about 9:30 a.m., the Pocomoke City Volunteer Fire Company received a call to respond to Scher’s and discovered a fire contained within the second floor of the store, which was quickly extinguished, according to the fire company’s website.
The fire company reported the fire was located in a room with a steam press.
“I had to do some steaming for a while,” Scher said. “I probably had 10-15 gowns, 50 dresses and 40-50 bridesmaid’s dresses up there. The iron basically shorted out.”
Scher said he left the room and upon his return found the fire. He said he attempted to fight the fire himself with an extinguisher, but the smoke was too thick. He said the firefighters put the blaze down quickly using extinguishers.
So, there is no water damage to worry about, and the physical damage to the building — apart from windows broken for ventilation — appears minimal to the naked eye. The smoke and the timing, however, are different stories.
June and July are busy times for a bridal shop owner, and only certain brides are comfortable smelling like campfires.
“We tried to get some cleaned, but we ended up refunding pretty much everyone,” he said. “But unless your wedding was that week, or the following week, you were fine.”
Every situation was different, and not every dress was a total loss, he said.
Not every dress upstairs was spoken for, either, and a lot of the upstairs space is used for storage or privacy, so it was mostly empty, he explained.
“We have an area on the second floor people like, because it’s more private,” Scher said. Mirrors, dressing rooms and tables furnish the space, which can accommodate both large and small wedding parties.
The third floor of the building was primarily used for storage, and housed items from the days when Scher’s was a more general clothing store, offering men’s and children’s wear as well as more formal attire.
“It’s where we kept the old window displays. Dad spent a lot of money on them, and downtown stores used to have a competition. Those days are pretty much gone — people ride by, but don’t do much window-shopping any more,” he said. “You have to be a standalone destination to get people to come, and the businesses doing well downtown know that.”
Most of the brides who come down to Scher’s are travelling at least a couple of hours, he said — and for good reason.
“My wife and I are here every hour the store is open. Customers know if they need something all they had to do was ask,” he said.
For example, Scher’s stocks water in case a customer gets thirsty, but occasionally a request for coffee or a soda came through, he explained. Before XO Beanery opened across the street last month, Scher said he would run down to a local fast food restaurant and bring back beverages. Upon seeing the familiar logo on the cup, the customer would often remark on the trouble.
“It wasn’t ever trouble. Lots of bride shops are sidelines for other places. Owners won’t give out cell phone numbers. This is our life. Text or call any time. We put three kids through college here,” he said.
Scher’s employs its own seamstress, and does its own alterations on site.
“It’s not contracted out — it’s on us if something’s not right. The seamstress works for me,” he said.
And the journey continues.
“We did have quite a bit of lost income. It was a shock. I can’t say how much as a whole, but everything worked out,” he said.
Scher’s inventory and building were insured, and adjusters were on site earlier this week assessing the damage. The shop has remained open throughout the process.
What Scher couldn’t anticipate was the town’s response.
“It was kind of like I had a lot of friends who wanted to help,” he said.
A lift being used for painting at XO Beanery was brought over as Pocomoke Public Works boarded up the broken windows the same day of the blaze.
“All the firefighters, these kids — I did all of their tuxedos. Everyone kept asking how things were coming.”
For Marc Scher, things have been going much as they have since the store switched to a full bridal shop around the turn of the century.
“We’re still seeing new brides, but since it’s so hot it’s a slow time of year. We’re still open at nine and close at five,” he said.
And he plans on keeping it that way.
On Saturday, June 11 at about 9:30 a.m., the Pocomoke City Volunteer Fire Company received a call to respond to Scher’s and discovered a fire contained within the second floor of the store, which was quickly extinguished, according to the fire company’s website.
The fire company reported the fire was located in a room with a steam press.
“I had to do some steaming for a while,” Scher said. “I probably had 10-15 gowns, 50 dresses and 40-50 bridesmaid’s dresses up there. The iron basically shorted out.”
Scher said he left the room and upon his return found the fire. He said he attempted to fight the fire himself with an extinguisher, but the smoke was too thick. He said the firefighters put the blaze down quickly using extinguishers.
So, there is no water damage to worry about, and the physical damage to the building — apart from windows broken for ventilation — appears minimal to the naked eye. The smoke and the timing, however, are different stories.
June and July are busy times for a bridal shop owner, and only certain brides are comfortable smelling like campfires.
“We tried to get some cleaned, but we ended up refunding pretty much everyone,” he said. “But unless your wedding was that week, or the following week, you were fine.”
Every situation was different, and not every dress was a total loss, he said.
Not every dress upstairs was spoken for, either, and a lot of the upstairs space is used for storage or privacy, so it was mostly empty, he explained.
“We have an area on the second floor people like, because it’s more private,” Scher said. Mirrors, dressing rooms and tables furnish the space, which can accommodate both large and small wedding parties.
The third floor of the building was primarily used for storage, and housed items from the days when Scher’s was a more general clothing store, offering men’s and children’s wear as well as more formal attire.
“It’s where we kept the old window displays. Dad spent a lot of money on them, and downtown stores used to have a competition. Those days are pretty much gone — people ride by, but don’t do much window-shopping any more,” he said. “You have to be a standalone destination to get people to come, and the businesses doing well downtown know that.”
Most of the brides who come down to Scher’s are travelling at least a couple of hours, he said — and for good reason.
“My wife and I are here every hour the store is open. Customers know if they need something all they had to do was ask,” he said.
For example, Scher’s stocks water in case a customer gets thirsty, but occasionally a request for coffee or a soda came through, he explained. Before XO Beanery opened across the street last month, Scher said he would run down to a local fast food restaurant and bring back beverages. Upon seeing the familiar logo on the cup, the customer would often remark on the trouble.
“It wasn’t ever trouble. Lots of bride shops are sidelines for other places. Owners won’t give out cell phone numbers. This is our life. Text or call any time. We put three kids through college here,” he said.
Scher’s employs its own seamstress, and does its own alterations on site.
“It’s not contracted out — it’s on us if something’s not right. The seamstress works for me,” he said.
And the journey continues.
“We did have quite a bit of lost income. It was a shock. I can’t say how much as a whole, but everything worked out,” he said.
Scher’s inventory and building were insured, and adjusters were on site earlier this week assessing the damage. The shop has remained open throughout the process.
What Scher couldn’t anticipate was the town’s response.
“It was kind of like I had a lot of friends who wanted to help,” he said.
A lift being used for painting at XO Beanery was brought over as Pocomoke Public Works boarded up the broken windows the same day of the blaze.
“All the firefighters, these kids — I did all of their tuxedos. Everyone kept asking how things were coming.”
For Marc Scher, things have been going much as they have since the store switched to a full bridal shop around the turn of the century.
“We’re still seeing new brides, but since it’s so hot it’s a slow time of year. We’re still open at nine and close at five,” he said.
And he plans on keeping it that way.