Like most of the other business owners working the Ocean City Boardwalk on Saturday night, Heidi Novasitis was at the front of the shop — “where the customers are” — as a fire began to burn in the back of the 7th Street Surf Shop next door.
The co-owner of Tater’s Famous Fresh Cut Fries said the wind was blowing off the ocean, and neither she nor the sole employee working the surf shop next door realized at first what was happening.
But Novasitis went back to use the bathroom, and she smelled and later saw a little smoke. She alerted her husband, Dave Novasitis, who opened a ceiling tile and saw thick black smoke pouring from it.
Novasitis called 911, alerted her neighbors, and “everybody just mojo-ed out the back,” she said.
Her trip to the back of the shop came just in time, as the fire grew quickly and ultimately left the 7th Street Surf Shop as a “total loss.” The boardwalk block was closed as firefighters fought to contain the blaze at about 8 p.m. Saturday, May 16.
“I believe in divine intervention,” Novasitis said.
The girl working the 7th Street Surf Shop saw a surfboard in flames as she walked through the back room, according to Becky Freidel, co-owner of the shop.
“Initial findings of the cause of the fire appear to be accidental in nature,” Ocean City Fire Chief Chris Breunig said on Monday. “We are looking into an unknown electrical device, in the office area of the store, which currently is unrecognizable due to the fire.”
Breunig said the store was without working smoke detectors. He said occupants of the shops also were alerted to the fire by passersby.
Freidel said on Monday that the shop hopes to reopen with as much of the summer season left as possible, and is working with the landlord, Raab Family LLC, to make that happen.
But she said they’re still waiting for insurance and fire inspectors to give them the OK to take out anything we want — “which is practically nothing.”
Freidel also owns the nearby 7th Street Beach Arcade, and she plans to run the shop’s popular surf lessons and camps from a portion of the arcade (learn more about lessons and camps). She hopes to bring a storage module to the shop’s parking area to house boards for the lessons.
The surf shop’s downtown location at 720 Asbury Avenue remains fully stocked and open at its regular hours. Another boardwalk location between 11th and 12th streets is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the week, and 9 a.m. through the evening on weekends (until hours expand for the season).
“We’d love to have the support for Memorial Day,” Freidel said.
She said insurance can cover the lost inventory and equipment, but you can’t ever get back the lost time.
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Next door at Taters, Novasitis said crews are working 24/7 to get the stand open by Memorial Day.
The fire suppression system went off, drenching the interior. She said a firewall kept flames from burning her shop, but it suffered smoke and water damage. The drop ceiling tiles are all ruined. Firefighters cut a hole in the roof. They had to throw away all inventory
“Basically, we’re starting from scratch,” she said. “It’s like starting a new business in a week.”
The Fire Department’s investigation continues.
“These types of fires are extremely difficult to fight due to the location of the stores,” Breunig said.
He thanked his own firefighters and the following assisting agencies: Ocean City Police Department, Ocean City Public Works, Margate Fire Department, Somers Point Fire Dept, Marmora Fire Company, Seaville Fire Company, Upper Township Rescue Squad.
