JENSEN BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — A Jensen Beach boutique is back open today after an 82-year-old driver crashed through its storefront over the weekend, narrowly missing shoppers and causing tens of thousands of dollars in damage during the height of the holiday season.
The crash happened Sunday afternoon at Do-Over Décor, a locally loved shop that features displays from nearly 30 Treasure Coast artists and vendors.
Owner Denise Aragona says the driver was pulling in to park when she accidentally hit the gas instead of the brake.
“She came through the door, the window,” Aragona said. “Luckily, she hit the support beam, which stopped her from traveling into the store further. We had customers in the store and workers here, so we are very thankful no one was injured. It could have been a lot worse.”
Surveillance video from inside shows the car smashing through the glass entrance and pushing debris across the sales floor — stopping just feet from several shoppers.
Inside, Aragona said the aftermath looked like “plants in places plants should never be.” Dirt covered the floors. Merchandise was crushed. Tempered glass was scattered into furniture, displays and vendor items across the store.
“We found plants underneath furniture, all over the place — dirt inside everything,” she said. “The glass was everywhere. We were pulling it out of everything.”
Despite the chaos, Aragona and her team of vendors worked through the night to clean up and reopen Monday morning.
“We were here all night sweeping up dirt from these little poor plants that didn’t make it,” she said. “I have 29 vendors here who want to stay open. Everybody rolled up their sleeves and we got it done.”
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A contractor temporarily secured the damaged windows and door with plywood. Aragona estimates the total cost to repair the storefront — including replacing the commercial glass, repairing electrical and drywall damage, fixing flooring, and replacing destroyed merchandise — will fall between $40,000 and $50,000.
The 82-year-old driver is being cited, according to the Martin County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO). Deputies say the crash appears to have been an accident.
With just weeks left in the busiest shopping season of the year, Aragona hopes the community will help the 29 small businesses that rely on the store for income.
“Hopefully customers will remember to come in and visit and help these vendors have a good season,” she said. “Support her, support the store, support local. That’s what we should be doing as a community.”
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