Copyright Boulder Daily Camera
After a devastating fire disrupted the livelihoods of business owners in the Caribou Village Shopping Center, Nederland is feeling the community’s support. On Saturday, the Nederland Strong rally injected the town with some positivity as residents are still reeling from last month’s fire. The block party and benefit concert served as a fundraiser for business owners and employees impacted by the disaster. On Big Springs Drive, not far from the wreckage of the shopping center, Claudia Schauffler enjoyed a meal from one of the food trucks at the rally. The burnt home of her new and used clothing store, The Shop, was visible from Schauffler’s table. “I had a bench behind the desk, because people would come in and just hang out and visit,” Schauffler said, recalling her store’s popularity. “So, I miss that.” Even though she lost most of her inventory in the fire, Schauffler focused on the overwhelming support of the Nederland community on Saturday. “This is amazing,” she said of the rally. “It really means a lot, because this shopping center was kind of the gathering place for the community.” The rally was spearheaded by Tebo Properties, which owns the Caribou Village Shopping Center. The Boulder County Community Foundation managed donations made during the event, and the town of Nederland will help distribute the funds. James Dixon, chief executive officer of Tebo Properties, said his team hopes to pick an architect for the rebuilding effort soon. “Everybody’s dedicated to doing it as quickly as possible,” he said. Saturday’s event was free, but visitors could donate cash in person or contribute to the fundraiser online. Although the rally aimed to raise money for the business owners, it was also an opportunity to “get the community together,” Dixon explained. “It’s such a tight-knit community,” Dixon said of Nederland. “We hope that this event brings people together even more.” The fire destroyed about a dozen businesses that were housed in the shopping center. The cause is still under investigation, although the sheriff’s office has stated there is “no credible evidence” that the fire was set intentionally. Nederland Mayor Billy Giblin shared that Dixon called him the day after the fire with the idea for Saturday’s rally. “We’re just super grateful that they’re putting their time and energy into this rebuild,” Giblin said of Tebo Properties. Sheriff Curtis Johnson also went to the rally to support Nederland’s recovery. “I think the initial shock has passed,” Johnson said. “Now, as the businesses are kind of sprinkling themselves back into the community, there’s optimism and hope that things are going to be OK.”
