"We Hope To Return": Danville Businesses Destroyed By Fire Launch Fundraisers

DANVILLE, CA — Danville businesses destroyed and closed indefinitely due to a fire are reaching out to the community for support. On the night of Monday, Oct. 20, a two-alarm fire ripped through a commercial strip mall on East Prospect Street in downtown Danville. While no one was injured and the structure remains standing, the roof and much of the interior were badly damaged.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation as of Tuesday.

Heart & Hustle Salon said that it was “completely destroyed” due to the fire.

“Five amazing stylists — Salon Owners Dana Johnson & Gina Clark, and stylists Debbie Medeiros, Kiley Gooding, and Corey Lawrence — lost not only their place of work, but all of their professional tools, color, supplies, and personal belongings that make their careers possible,” reads a GoFundMe organized by Johnson’s family and friends.

“This small, tight-knit team poured their hearts into creating a space that represented passion, artistry, and community. From the color cabinets to the coffee bar, every detail was built with love and hard work. Now, everything — from salon retail to every last brush and blow dryer — is gone.”

The total loss is estimated to be over $50,000, according to the fundraiser, which has raised nearly $17,000 of the overall $50,000 goal as of Tuesday morning.

Japanese restaurant Taru Sushi and Jungdon Katsu said it was forced to shut down their Danville location after ten years, though they hope to return as soon as possible. “As a small business family, we are trying our best to move through these obstacles and come back from the damages. Thank you for everyone’s support during these hard times, and we hope to return to the community as soon as possible,” they wrote in a fundraiser, which has raised $3,954 out of a $7,500 goal as of Tuesday morning.

“As we want to continue to serve the community and re-open, we are asking the community to help us with whatever they can. It is not just a restaurant, but our family's dream and decades of hard work that we are trying to preserve and come back even stronger from.”

The Moda Mi clothing boutique, Lashify Studio eyelash salon, and South Austin Lane gift shop were all affected, according to the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District.

Lashify owner Kam Sok told Patch that the inside of the store was completely destroyed. She said that she’s been told it will take eight to 12 months to rebuild, and in the meantime, she’s moved all her clients to the salon’s Walnut Creek location. Sok said she is not currently running any fundraisers.

Patch reached out to Moda Mi and South Austin Lane for updates.

SEE ALSO:

• Danville Businesses Badly Damaged In Two-Alarm Fire