Fundraiser launched after ‘catastrophic’ fire at Paris on Ponce

A fire ravaged Paris on Ponce – the historic building full of eclectic vintage shops and event spaces along the Atlanta BeltLine’s Eastside Trail – the night before Thanksgiving. A fundraiser has been launched to help restore the 100-year-old-building.

Paris on Ponce owner Nicolette Valdespino has set up a GoFundMe page and at press time, nearly $17,000 has been raised. There’s a goal of $100,000.

Valdespino said that a number of the shops were destroyed and described the damage as “catastrophic.” The shops destroyed by the fire include Three Hearts, Full Circle, BeltLine Books, PopLooks, Carl Janes Studio and Korki.

Valdespino, who doesn’t own the building that was formerly the Colgate Mattress Factory, said she is hopeful that insurance will eventually pay for repairs, but she said work needs to begin immediately if Paris on Ponce is to survive.

“Help to begin rebuilding, to clean, and to take care of our incredible staff of eight through the holidays that are beyond heartbroken,” Valdespino said. “Hopefully, insurance will take care of us eventually, but these things take time – usually months – and if we have a shot to begin rebuilding, it has to be now.”

The cause of the fire has yet to be determined.