June 13, 2022 — Major damage occurred at BeauxArts Fine Arts Material & Gallery when a car drove through the front of the store just before noon on Monday.

No injuries occurred as the driver was only a bit shaken and no personnel were in the store when the incident occurred. However, major damage was caused to the store front and the items inside.

Store owner Jo Beaudreau said the incident was an accident, and, thanks to a local construction company, initial repairs began immediately.

“Huge shout out to Jason Lockler Construction and his team for helping me out with an ‘Oops-a-daisy’ at my shop,” Beaudreau said on her Facebook page.

According to Beaudreau, the damage will not affect business and she planned to be open at noon on Tuesday as normal.

She also mentioned that she would not have been able to make the quick return without the community around her store coming together to assist.

“First, Officer Robert Merryman (with the Florence Police Department) made sure everyone and everything was okay,” Beaudreau said. “Danielle Farris at Best for Hearing, Bonnie Combs from Coastal Fitness, Moira Sadovy from Frames of Florence, along with Tim and Donna (last names unknown) from St. Vincent DePaul all deserve a community shout out for stepping up to help me when the accident happened.”

BeauxArts Fine Arts Material & Gallery is located at 2285 Highway 101, Suite H.