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Cowboys and Angels reopens downtown Tehachapi after September fire; owner credits community fundraising
Summary
Cowboys and Angels reopened on South Green Street in early December after a September fire at its previous location; owner Joanne Nicks said community fundraising offset uninsured merchandise losses.
Cowboys and Angels, a western boutique, reopened a downtown Tehachapi storefront in December after a September fire at the shop's prior location, owner Joanne Nicks said on a recent podcast.
"Within a week, my friend Carla had put together a GoFundMe page," Nicks said, describing the community response after the Sept. 20 fire. "It did not cover my merchandise. So that gave me the opportunity... to say, yes, I can do this." Nicks said her insurance did not cover merchandise losses.
Nicks said she took possession of the new downtown location on Dec. 6 and that the address is 107 South Green Street, downtown Tehachapi, across from the BK Theater and next to Gallery and Gifts. She provided a customer phone number on the episode: (661) 771-7185. Nicks said the storewhich she has owned in other locations for yearscarries western apparel and accessories, including bags, hats, jewelry and home decor, and she plans to expand men's lines with Wrangler products.
The boutique's current hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; Nicks said she may extend evening hours as daylight lengthens. She also hosts a "Sip and Shop" every other Friday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and plans to participate in downtown events, including the chamber's Wine Walk.
Nicks credited a range of local support after the fire, including community fundraisers and in-kind assistance. She noted that Tehachapi Winery and other community organizations helped raise funds and donations to help her reopen. Nicks said the move downtown has increased foot traffic and that she expects farmers market days and festivals to bring customers into the store.
Nicks described the store's merchandise mix as western-focused, with brands such as Wrangler and Stetson available. She said she carries jewelry by local designer Dawn Jones and other local items.
Less critical details: Nicks said the downtown location offers a view of the water tower, and that she is considering off-site storage to handle increased inventory if she expands Wrangler and men's apparel offerings.
