Fire at unlucky building may scare away baby biz

By Joanie Veitch - The Weekly News
Meghan Casey says her shop, All About Baby, will be reopening but she's not sure if it will be in the same location.
On Feb. 7 the building that housed the store, at the corner of Prince Albert Road and Pleasant Street, caught fire. Firefighters managed to save much of Casey's inventory by covering it with plastic.
"I was in the store when the fire happened. It started up in the attic. Someone walking by came in and told me. I only had time to grab my laptop, as that was the thing closest to me at the time, before I smelled the smoke and got out of there," Casey said.
Casey bought the business in April 2008, just before having her first child. In August, she moved the shop from its location on Ochterloney Street to 55 Prince Albert Rd. for better street visibility, and to gain extra space in which to run a small childcare centre.
Since the fire, Casey has relocated her daycare operation to the North Woodside Community Centre. Although she says she may reopen both the daycare and the store at the Prince Albert Road location again, she's been looking around at other options in the interim.
The persistent local rumour that the building is cursed may have something to do with that, Casey admits.
Years ago a murder took place in the building, and although various businesses have tried to make a go of it, no business has managed to stay open very long.
"When I first heard about it I wasn't too concerned … but since this happened, I've thought about it all again. It does make you wonder," she said.
To find out when, and maybe where, the store will be re-opening, check the website at www.
allaboutbaby.ca. All About Baby sells new and gently-used clothing and goods for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers, such as strollers, high chairs, cribs, toddler beds, baby carriers, play equipment and toys. The store also carries maternity clothes, breast pumps and nursing pillows.
joanie.veitch@gmail.com