Display Celebrating 2020's End Sparks Fire, Damages Midtown Store

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — Just before Christmas, the owners of the NoMad boutique and gallery MAISON 10 rang in the holidays in a style fitting for such an impossible year: a 16-foot Christmas tree, hung upside-down from the ceiling and bearing the neon message: "F*CK 2020."

The statement proved truer than the owners, husbands Henri Myers and Tom Blackie, could have imagined: on Jan. 7, the tree caught fire, badly damaging the shop. (No one was injured.)

"The irony isn't lost on us," spokesperson Ruth Walker wrote on the store website.

The next day, the duo launched an online fundraiser, aiming to cover some of the tens of thousands of dollars in repairs to cover the smoke and water damage caused by the blaze. As of Tuesday, the campaign had raised nearly $26,000 of the $35,000 goal.

"It's unbelievable," Myers said in a news release. "People have offered to rebuild the shop fittings, help with legal advice, and even roll up their sleeves and clean up the mess."

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Adding to the irony, the fire came on the heels of one of the shop's most successful holiday seasons ever, Myers and Blackie said.

"That Thursday was one of the worst days of our lives — complete nightmare," Blackie said. "But we've been blown away by all the messages of love and support, and want to thank each one of our amazing community personally."

Now in its fifth year in business on West 29th Street, MAISON 10 describes itself as a platform for artists and designers to bring high-quality products to a wider market. Ten percent of each sale is donated to charity.

MAISON 10 is open daily at 4 West 29th St. Learn more at maison10.com