Elmhurst Bridal Store Suffers Heavy Damage in Fire: UPDATED

Fire destroys a bridal shop in Elmhurst. No one injured, fortunately. Bride with wedding next weekend now scrambling. @fox32news pic.twitter.com/d5hiA6CBua
— Craig Wall FOX 32 (@craigrwall) January 26, 2017

ELMHURST, IL — An Elmhurst dress shop in a historic building sustained heavy damage during a fiercely burning, two-alarm fire Thursday afternoon. Firefighters remained on the scene into the evening searching for hotspots.

Elmhurst firefighters were dispatched to VIP Occasions at 351 York Rd. at 1:37 p.m., according to an emergency alert issued by the city. As of 4:09 p.m., firefighters were still in the process of putting out the fire, which still had "visible flames in the roof area."

According to the Elmhurst History Museum, the building that houses the shop was building 1932 and was a grocery at one time. The store became a special occasion dress shop once known as Clancy’s and most recently known as VIP Occasions.

No injuries have been reported, and the cause of the fire is still unknown.

Sisters Nicole Samardzija and Natalie Krstev.have owned the beloved Elmhurst store since 1991, ABC 7 Chicago reported. Other area bridal shops, including the owner of an Oak Lawn bridal salon who lost her store in a fire seven years ago, are stepping up to assist brides whose gowns were lost in the fire.

The sisters issued a statement on the store's Facebook page Thursday evening vowing to assist all customers impacted by the fire:

York Road between Lake Street and North Avenue is currently closed, according to the alert, as well as many side streets to the east and west of the fire, including Grantley Avenue between York Street and Emroy Avenue, Columbia Avenue between York Street and Emry Avenue and Grantley Avenue between York Street and Larch Avenue.

VIP Occasions sells bridal gowns, evening wear and tuxes, according to its website. It has been a successful local business for 25 years now.

This story is developing. Continue to check Patch for updates.

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