Fleur de lis now open on Main Street in Damar
from the Stockton Sentinel  6/11/2009, by Cheryl Calvin

Nine women, who have been friends for years, have formed a group called the Main Street Project in Damar.   All of these women have ties that bind them to Damar.   Some have either grown up there or have married men from Damar.   From that project a store which they like to call "Fleur de lis," was created.

Since the opening of their store, Fleur de lis, the nine women have shared their time minding the shop.  Fleur de lis is a gift shop with various consignment pieces, antique furniture, baby items and wall decor.  There are also soaps, lotions and candles, all hand-made by one of the women.

What started it all was when one of the women, Jeanie Roberts, began painting her father's shop, which happens to be next door to the Fleur de lis shop.  Kaylon Roberts, Jeanie's brother-in-law, bought the old shop, which in the old days used to be a creamery.  After the shop was bought in November 2008, Kaylon began work, along with a crew he hired, to finish the abandoned building.  By May 1, the old building became new and ready for business.  Jeanie and her friends opened the shop the first Tuesday in May.

The women especially thought that having this shop would be a good idea since the St. Joseph Catholic Church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is becoming a regional tourist attraction.  Damar has become a busy little town since then and their shop has seen many customers.

Besides Jeanie Roberts, the rest of the women are Paula Desbien, Debbie Pfannenstiel, Leona Newell, Cindy Newell, Treva Johnston, Becky Pyle, Judy Bieker, and Paulette Neurnburger.  

The store is open from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, with the addition of a few Sundays.  A chalk board sitting on the sidewalk in front of the shop will list what the baked goods of the day are.   Those can range from chocolate chip cookies to cheesecake, various pies to brownies and homemade caramel popcorn.   The shop also sells ice cream bars and canned pop.

Randy Simoneau painted the building bright red with a black and white canvas awning hanging quaintly over the doorway.