Tom Fedor/The Gazette
Joanne Sapp (left) says she's eager to reopen her Déja Vu women's clothing store in a new location this month. At right is her friend Dalia Schulman, owner of Knittin' Chicks.
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True to its name, Déja Vu is about to reappear on Main Street in Mount Airy.
The women's clothing store operated out of 204 S. Main St. until an electrical fire in the early morning of Sept. 2, 2007, gutted that and two adjacent buildings, which housed a total of eight businesses.
Déja Vu, as well as many of the other stores that were displaced by the fire, are due to reopen early this month at 118 Main St.
Rob Scranton of CBI Development Group said recently that Déja Vu, Laurienzo's Brick Oven Café and A Do or Dye salon are among the businesses that will be in the new two-story building.
Joanne Sapp, owner of Déja Vu, is thrilled.
"It's going to be great to be back home," Sapp said. "People can drive by and look at the crazy window displays. The kids really love them."
Since November, Déja Vu has been operating out of a double-wide trailer in the old train station parking lot.
Sales there have about matched those at the old store, Sapp said. People have been able to park in front of the store to patronize Déja Vu's trailer location. They won't be able to do so when the store opens in its new location, but the new space has its advantages.
The new store is set back 20 feet, with benches in front where pedestrians can relax, people watch and window shop.
"People will always feel at home coming in," said Sapp.
And, she said, the new store is 1,800 square feet, nearly double the old store, and 300 square feet larger than the trailer space.
Sapp has taken advantage of the extra space to create two entirely separate sections: one for casual clothing and one for formal wear.
Sapp has also used some of the destructive effects of the fire to transform the business into one she believes will be even more appealing and fun. When all her inventory was destroyed she decided to upgrade.
Sapp said she has brought in new accessory and clothing lines including Jessica Simpson — "She makes great shoes and handbags. Oh, my God, they are fabulous!"; Naughty Monkey —
"They have really cool, modern, funky shoes"; and Elite Model handbags — "They're gorgeous, very urban, very chic."
The new store will also have five new formal wear lines: Morilee, Flirt, Fabiana, Sparkle and Excite, which she said are awarded only to top-quality stores. The new store will also feature a line for prom and bridesmaid dresses.
"I'm in love with the formal section," she said. "It's definitely my passion. It's a hoot. I enjoy the girls. I have teenage girls myself. I love them all. I understand them all. I have been there myself."
At least one of Sapp's two daughters won't have to look far for her mothers' help, in fashion or other matters. Kirsten will be working as a cosmetologist at A Do or Dye, which will open directly above Déja Vu on the second floor.
Sapp's younger daughter, Kelsey, is a student and cheerleader at South Carroll High School.
Sapp said she is happy she has been able to turn a personal and professional tragedy into a triumph:
"I took a place that burned down and turned into a place you would see in New York."
