About a week before Covered Treasure’s 25th birthday July 27, a pipe failure above the store’s century-old building in downtown Monument caused thousands of dollars worth of water damage to the shop and its contents.

Longtime employee Paula Primavera arrived the morning of July 6 to face what amounted to drenching indoor rain. On the store’s Facebook page she describes her shock: “When I opened the side-door to the store, the ceiling panels were on the ground and water was pouring down like I had walked into a thunderstorm!”

Owner Tommie Plank said on July 21: “When she opened the store it was a horror scene. Ceiling panels had fallen down and it was horrific, just horrific.” The main room is “a complete wash,” including the sub-floor. Some fixtures and bookcases were damaged. A small number of ruined books stacked on a back counter inventoried so far were a loss totaling $3,200.

People have been displaced all over, Plank said. The hairstylist upstairs moved across the street. None of the other building residents were retail like the bookstore, so they’ve been able to find other space, “not that they’re happy.”

Because of asbestos in the disturbed ceiling, there was still no access to the building except for the pharmacy on July 21. Progress towards re-opening retail space was delayed further waiting on a second state of Colorado emergency permit to address the special cleaning. The first amelioration team backed out when the job would take too much time; they had to finish work on schools during summer break.

The summer and fall months of June through October are some of the store’s most active income months. Instead, merchandise has been locked up in the building for weeks. Plank says there are invoices she can’t pay because of no sales.

The office’s contents, including two salvageable computers, are strewn around Plank’s house. “It looks horrible.” There are drawers and bins of things stacked around.” Primavera also has things stored at her house, and employee Pam Sparks’ has the used books at hers.

“It’s been a real challenge. It’s really hard now,” Plank said. She mentions the fact that every small business owner also has their own personal lives, with their accompanying various challenges.

On July 19, staff and two already-scheduled visiting authors carried on and participated in Monument’s monthly May through October Art Hop night-shopping event. They set up the equivalent of a pop-up shop at the Chamber of Commerce.

“People were so good, they came out, bought books and made donations to the bookstore,” Plank said.

“People are just so concerned. (They) don’t want the community to lose the bookstore. A small indie bookstore, in a small community like the Tri-lakes area … (they’re) very concerned (that we) re-open.”

According to Plank, the building’s owners, Lee and Rob Frisbie, “have every intention of returning the building to its former really charming state. It had such a wonderful feel to it.” But she said she doesn’t know if that will be economically feasible.

Insurance quotes are needed, estimates required, builders “in short supply” right now in Colorado. Fixtures need replacing, bookcases were destroyed; a lot of steps needed to recover.

“We can’t even do a physical inventory of what’s in those two rooms until we can get in there. It’s just hard to see into the future, to know how much longer we’ll be in limbo.”

Plank said she wanted everyone to know how appreciative she is at the efforts at help and the expressions of concern and care.

“We think we know how everyone feels … we know how we feel, but to hear how much it means to everyone,” she said.

The store’s July 24th Facebook update struck a hopeful note.

“ … Work has begun on the building!!! The basement has been gutted. The back area to the building has been cleaned and other tenants were able to go into the building to retrieve office supplies to make their transitional spaces feel more like home. We do not have that privilege but our temporary office is quite lovely!”

The structure of plastic and plywood in front of our store is the “clean” room. The abatement team will be moving our books out there after they have individually cleaned each book! … When that job is complete, all the bookcases, walls, windows etc. will be wiped down and cleaned. This process will take 3-4 weeks. Our hope is to be in our back rooms shortly after this process is completed. We will not be in the main room for many months after this process but we hope by the Christmas season we will be welcoming you through the front door!”

A Covered Treasures supporter was reportedly working on a GoFundMe account to centralize a place for those wanting to help with replacement costs for the store and its contents. Check The Tribune for updates.

Covered Treasures bookstore experienced extensive damage to the main room of their store July 6.

Asbestos ceiling tiles collapsed into the main room of Covered Treasures bookstore after a pipe failure drenched the shop. Delayed renovation efforts and related inability to assess lost inventory has been counteracted by community dismay and offers of help. Courtesy photo

Salvaged books moved to the back children’s room of Covered Treasures bookstore in Monument after the main room’s water damage. Shop owners hope to partially re-open soon with limited stock and are still fulfilling special orders. Courtesy photos