Dubuque Bridal Shop Reopens Following July Fire

A bridal boutique in Dubuque is officially reopening over two months after a fire caused smoke damage to the Bluff Street store.

On July 18th, a fire broke out on the third floor of Vintage Chic Bridal Boutique at 400 Bluff Street in Dubuque. Most of the inventory survived, but some dresses needed to be cleaned or replaced due to smoke damage.

READ MORE: Dubuque Bridal Shop Closes Temporarily Following Roof Fire

About Vintage Chic in Dubuque Reopening:

With the help of her mother, Judi Duggan, Vintage Chic owner Shelby Duggan worked diligently to pull the brides' dresses out of the building amidst the fire. Passersby even assisted in loading items into a nearby van. The fire was extinguished before it reached the first floor, rendering the boutique only impacted by smoke damage.

That said, Duggan still needed to bring in a fire remediation team to clean the dresses that remained inside the building during the blaze. The shop's furniture, flooring, and carpet needed to be clean, as well as the HVAC system, per the Telegraph Herald. Duggan told the Telegraph Herald that this cleaning and restoration process led her to "reset" and "figure out what was important."

Those who have been in Vintage Chic in the past will notice the shop looks noticeably different now, with a new wall of flowers and another rack of dresses inside the building as well. Duggan also brought in a Polaroid camera to take photos of women who by a dress to commemorate and celebrate the moment. Women who purchase a dress will also receive a free T-shirt with their purchase as well.

Open by appointment, Vintage Chic Bridal Boutique offers one-on-one appointments with brides as well as a selection of special-order bridal gowns, including ones designed by Duggan herself. You can find out more about Vintage Chic Bridal Boutique on their website and their Facebook page as well.