LANCASTER – Daisy’s Costumes, a fixture on Lancaster Boulevard for more than 30 years, needs your support.
Community donations are needed to repair, clean, and replace thousands of costumes damaged by fire early Thursday morning.
Donations may be made at any US Bank teller to “Daisy’s Costumes” or online at www.gofundme.com/daisyscostumes.
Of the 9,000 costumes in the business, about 85% were consumed, melted by the heat, or smoke damaged beyond repair from a blaze, which was first reported around 6:20 a.m., Thursday, April 24.
“The 9-1-1 caller reported seeing flames across the street. Units arrived on scene and reported a working fire in a single story commercial building [with] fire showing to the rear of the structure,” said Inspector Anthony Akins of the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
The rear of the structure was hit the hardest and nearly completely engulfed.
Still, firefighters managed to contain the blaze in less than 30 minutes.
They cut access holes in the roof and throughout the structure, which prevented total damage to the building and its contents.
“About 6:46 [a.m.], they called knock down and they canceled most of the second alarm units,” Akins said. However, units were still on scene hours later for cleanup.
No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire is still under investigation, Akins said.
The damage to the structure is complete, and damages to the building’s contents are estimated at over $850,000.
Daisy’s Costumes has been on Lancaster Boulevard for more than 30 years, run by April and George Ray for the entire time.
UPDATED @11:30 a.m., April 25, 2014
Local businesses are pitching in to help the effort.
- Double D Cupcakes will be donating 100% of cake sales on Wednesday, April 30, to Daisy’s Costumes.
- The Lemon Leaf is conducting a fabric drive to help rebuild what has been lost. If you have any fabric at home you’d like to contribute, bring it by the Lemon Leaf during their regular business hours.
- Kinetic Brewing will be doing a fundraiser the entire weekend of May 3-4.
- Bravery Brewing is donating $1 from every pint until the end of April.
- Julianni’s Italian Ristorante is donating $1 of each wine or beer sold for the next two weeks.
kristy says
I have been blessed with always getting the best costumes from there and my heart breaks to hear this.
Jason says
I graduated HS in96 and remember going to Daisy’s for all the costumes for our plays. They were always so fun to talk to and made going in there an adventure. I hope they get back up and running soon. This is one of the few throw back locations in downtown. A shame this happened.
Lori says
What about just donating old costumes/gowns/hats/suits that you may have around the house? Does anyone know if they would accept those types of items?
carla says
she wouldn’t take stuff like that she wants the money so they can run with it and thats bull and they people wont open their eyes and see what she is going to do and it will happen again cause she is a packrat and wont clean her shop and when i went in there it ws so dirty and smelly that it made me sick and then i ask for a costume she said no and would not help and thats when i desided she will never ever get any help from me ever and she got what she deserve and i dont feel sorry for her at all. so she will never rebuild and all the money that is collected will be in her pockets and you all will not get it back it will be gone forever…..
Dawn Cordova says
You are loved April and Ray…you were always there to make Anime Conventions magical for my daughter, Danelia.You were there to make my students and my own children’s performances for Kids On Stage an exciting and successful event. You were there for countless Pageant Queens and Princesses, innumerable Renaissance Faire actors and visitors and thousands of halloween pirates, vampires, witches, hotdogs and cleopatra’s. You made my youngest son one of the best Legends of Jazz for his school assignment.This community has definitely lost a true Jewel in the Desert. I pray for you to be able to rebuild. But, if you don’t wish to or simply can not, I wish you a truly blessed and peaceful retirement surrounded the the family I often listened to you telling me delightful stories about over the years. You are loved April and Ray. Always know that.
Adam Chant says
I would like to address the questions about Insurance so that everyone can understand why there is a real need to help Daisy’s Costumes rebuild.
I am a small business owner and we offer a similar type of merchandise in our vintage clothing store. Something that we discovered very quickly when trying to get insurance is that almost no insurance agency will write a policy that covers used merchandise and especially not ‘vintage’ apparel. It took our Insurance Agent (one of the big three Agencies) months to find us a policy that would accept our business, and even now the insured value of our vintage apparel is a fraction of the wholesale value.
If my business was involved in an incident that damaged our vintage apparel it would be financially devastating to our business. Yes our insurance would cover the replacement of our fixtures and our new merchandise, but the bulk of our one-of-a-kind and historically significant vintage pieces would be lost forever. Daisy’s is faced with the same situation and while insurance will take care of the infrastructure there is no easy way to replace the merchandise and history they lost in the fire.
If you don’t feel compelled to donate money, that is OK. There are other ways to contribute including donating fabric at various businesses, volunteering your free time helping them recover salvageable items or just buying something from a business participating in the fundraising efforts.
Matt Rondel says
Thank you Adam for the clarification I was wondering this since I heard of the fire.
Miss Littlerock says
For anyone who hasn’t been to/rented from this store:
My name is Taylor Burnside and I was Miss Littlerock 2010 and Jr Miss Littlerock 2007. Daisy’s provided many of the costumes my sister (Jr Miss Littlerock 2004) and I used in our pageants, Halloween costumes, etc. After interacting with the owners, I trust them completely. I am sorely disappointed by the negative comments here.
curious says
Why isn’t Joannas fabric or Annas linens or any other business that can Realllllllly help, helping out???
curious says
Or even MICHAELS
Divasurratt says
This lady is our friend and sister in CHRIST. Im sure she did have insurance, why cant we as a people,support her in her time of need? We rent costumes from her at a fraction of the going rate. If she don’t have it SHE SEWS THE COSTUME FOR YOU. I know, we reciently had a function at our church,,,,, oh yeah,we got our gear from her!!!!!!! If I have to sell cans and plastic to help her, I WILL.
sjgranai says
The Little Schezwan restaurant took alot of damage too. I know Daisy’s is a great place with great people… but there were other businesses damaged too. I don’t get why nobody is talking about them.
Aelita says
Good point. Thank you for mentioning it. I hope the community can band together and help everyone out.
(that restaurant has yummy food too ;)
jerilyn says
I am totally bummed about Little Schezwan their food was delicious…I hope they will be back as I am;sure they have many loyal customers who care
Terrell Pfaff says
My first reaction is these poor people and all the people who depended on their costumes for shows, parties, etc. and I come on this website and right off the bat see negative comments blaming these wonderful people for the fire. You people should be ashamed!
Ronda says
I agree.
Eric says
@William, @CapnLancaster…..I hope you two have an alibi!
William says
So, Eric. How much did you donate?
Eric says
$0. I don’t shop there, I’ve really no vested interest in a costume shop, local or not.
William says
So, you were just smartin’ off.
Eric says
I’m just saying, with as vocal as you and the good Cap’n are, and as dirty as Rex is, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them target you two for this. I stand with you brother, don’t mistake me as an opponent.
William says
Don’t think that I haven’t thought of Rex coming after any of his critics. And, it won’t be a hit mailer.
But, I think it’s past the tipping point. Palmdale is so far out in front of Lancaster in so many ways, it seems like the game is over.
But, not to worry. If things keep sliding in Lancaster, Rex will be fine. He’s got his money and he can pick up and move if he hasn’t already, leaving the mess behind.
wondering says
$2,355.00 raised so far – goal: $250,000.00 – quote from the guy leading the donation drive: “The investigation by the firefighters and insurance company continues this afternoon.” – So.. they start asking for donations the very next day, before they even know what insurance is going to pay? I smell a rat here. I have had bad things happen to me in life but I did not ask for donations from the public. I hope arson investigators investigate this one thoroughly.
valleygirl says
Actually, as sad as it is, they were not covered for fire. It was caused by faulty electrical and the city will rebuild, but the contents are not covered.
Aelita says
Shouldn’t people want to help out others in the community they live in? No matter what. I’m not even from here but I respect what that little shop brought to the community and the arts. It wasn’t Walmart. A lot of those costumes were HANDMADE ya know? 30 years…peoples parents wore some of those costumes. happy memories were in that building too. Even if you dont donate, I think it speaks volumes how the people in the community treat each other. The Blvd is beautiful. and since moving here ive seen amazing things come into this sand pit because of the businesses there and the dedication of the people who work and run them. I support them staying and continuing to enrich the lives of the folks who love em.
jojo says
That is why I”am leaving this town Texas bound lived here sense 1987 not the same here !!
schoolvolunteer says
There are no rats here to smell. This is a family loving community reaching out to aid a business in this community that has positively benefited MANY of us. They have worked long hours for rush jobs for those of us failing to plan; Daisy’s has given discounts to ones that just couldn’t afford the fair rental price. Mr. & Mrs. Ray have lived their lives making this community just a wee bit better, aiding in making events go from OK to AWESOME.
Please show some compassion. Be a positive part of this awful disaster by at least being respectful. There is NO RAT HERE.
Saddened says
Daisy’s did not ask for donations the morning of the fire. Thursday morning, the morning of the fire, the surrounding businesses started asking for donations and asking others to pitch in to help.
Manfred Dingelhoffer says
Insurance??? I understand this was a small business, local family; I understand the community support and it’s wonderful. But any business should have insurance. Especially a business with a commercial storefront, that’s been in business for 30 years. Did they have insurance? If so, are cash donations really needed and if so, how much?
valleygirl says
Their policy did not cover fire, which is very odd. I can’t imagine an insurance agent not making sure they had fire, and they assumed they did. Pretty sad, since they are the only people doing what they do. I hope they rebuild.
amber says
there was insurance on the building but they did not have renters insurance to cover the contents of the store, that is what the donations are for