A Feb. 11 electric fire caused damage to the family-owned McFly’s Thrift Store, destroying all of the inventory inside. Photos by CLARRISSE GUEVARRA, Staff Photographer

It was closing time on a typical day for employees working at the family-owned-and-operated McFly's Thrift Store Feb. 11, who gathered the outdoor signs to bring inside for the evening. 

Then a bypassing car notified them that the building was on fire. 

“My son and daughter were still there and I had just left for the day,” said Janice Garcia, the owner of McFly’s, located at 1135 W. Chapman Ave. “Between the time I left the shop and got home, it had started smoking really bad. Two minutes later, the building was in full flames.”

It was determined that the origin was an electrical fire in the attic. Although the employees were able to get out safely, the store’s inventory was destroyed. At first, Garcia and her family were devastated. The store represented all their energy, time and money, she said.

“All of our inventory is a total loss because our merchandise is clothing,” Garcia said. “For us, this is a tragedy. There are bigger tragedies in the world, but this is hugely impactful for our family because this is where our kids have decided to work and it’s where we work.”

However, McFly’s was able to adapt to utilize some items that they had previously stored in a warehouse in the back of the building. The thrift store opened for outdoor business Feb. 23 while the original store undergoes remediation, people will be able to make purchases from the warehouse, which is exciting for the store’s loyal customers. 

“Before the fire, I loved shopping at McFly’s,” said Livia Paschke, a junior philosophy and peace studies double major at Chapman. “They were so kind to us, took COVID precautions and did everything to ensure that we had a great experience.”

Since thrift stores often take a long time to acquire products it may be difficult for McFly’s to replace the merchandise and find new pieces that customers will still be interested in purchasing.  

“Since McFly’s is a resale store, I would think that it would be very difficult to replenish their inventory,” said Rebecca Day, a sophomore business major at Chapman and a loyal customer. “With resale, they buy all of their clothes from other outlets, unlike a place such as Goodwill (Industries) or (The) Salvation Army where they receive donations.”

The repairs are expected to take between four to six months. But in the meantime, the Orange community has been actively supporting the store.

“Our customers have donated on our GoFundMe; they have wanted to help set up racks, hang clothes, donate clothes, volunteer their time and send well wishes,” Garcia said. “You don’t really know the impact you have on the community until the community reaches out to you. They have been so encouraging and kind.”

The Garcias, a family of Christian faith, will continue to rely on inner strength and that community support to move forward. 

“We just took it to prayer and tried to keep our chin up and keep pushing on,” Garcia said.