Black-owned business vandalized, now ready to reopen after overwhelming support
With every bottle in place, every jar filled back up, just days away from re-opening, Chanel Wapner is giving thanks and reflecting.
"The Clovis community has wrapped themselves around me so much I feel like this store belongs to Old Town Clovis. It has, it has been a journey, it's been what a little over a month," said Wapner the owner of Just My Essentials.
A little over a month ago on September 26th, Wapner woke up to the hate crime at her store.
She was stunned.
Now she’s stunned again, but this time with joy and so much gratitude.
“Just seeing all the colors again it warms my heart it really really does," said Wapner.
This time with joy and so much gratitude.
Her store has come back to life.
From sugar scrubs to bath bombs, and everything in between, Wapner has rebuilt everything she lost and then some.
She’s even added new products.
But to go from that the destruction she faced a the end of September to her beautiful new store, Wapner says took a village.
The help came from Cal Custom Tile, a business that donated the floor, PPG Paints, a business that donated paint and a painter for the walls. AA Security that donated surveillance cameras, and so many more.
"I mean there was a young man that actually came by and gave me a pizza for lunch today because he saw me working on the floor," said Wapner.
Literally, everyone in the community stepped up to help.
Wapner says that is who Clovis is and she's grateful for it.
"I’m so proud I’m so thankful to Clovis, thank you so Clovis. I am Clovis and I love us, I do."
Just My Essentials will have its grand re-opening this Saturday, November 14th at noon.
