Fire Destroys Longtime Coweta Flower Shop

A downtown Coweta business was destroyed by fire Wednesday night. Dortha's Flowers was gutted by a fire that started at about 5:45 p.m.

Investigators say an electrical short to a cash register sparked the blaze.

The business, located at 119 N. Broadway, is connected to a barber shop and beauty salon. There was minor damage to the barber shop but none to the salon.

All three properties are owned by the same person, Bobbie Sanders. Her mother, Dortha, started the flower shop and sold it to the current owner Kayse Conner.

Kayse and Bobbie are leaning on each other for support. Both women have invested a lot of time, money and emotions into Dortha's Flowers.

Bobbie had the shop for about 45 years, then sold it to Kayse six years ago, but still owns the building.

"I was just shocked and I was worried about Kayse. We latched onto each other for a long time," Bobbie said.

The loss is bad enough - an estimated $100,000 in damage to the building and another $100,000 for the stuff inside the shop.

But the timing makes it worse with the busy Christmas season followed by an even more profitable Valentine's Day.

"Very busy, very busy and we have a lot of really loyal customers that have been really good to us over the years and it's sad," said Conner said.

Funeral and graveside flower arrangements were a Dortha's specialty, according to one of those loyal customers.

"They go and decorate my graves every year. I sure hated to lose it," said Ann Scott, Coweta resident.

Brian Woodward with the fire department says a fire hasn't destroyed a downtown business in nearly 50 years.

The nearby barber shop and beauty salon that Bobbie also owns were spared. No one was injured and Kayse says that's a miracle considering the helium tank and fifty bottles of spray paint inside her shop that managed not to explode.

The owner of the building doesn't know yet if she's going to restore it and the owner of the business isn't sure of her future either. Both women are waiting on their insurance companies.