ALEXANDRIA, Va. (DC News Now) -- The DMV's first romance bookstore opened in Old Town on Nov. 14. Three days later, it closed indefinitely. The Alexandria Fire Department (AFD) responded to a fire just before 11 p.m. on Nov. 17 at 103 S. Saint Asaph St., where Friends to Lovers had just opened its doors. A total of 53 firefighters, including investigators, responded to the incident. All three businesses inside the space were impacted by smoke and water damage from extinguishment efforts, causing Friends to Lovers to shut down. Jamie Fortin planned to cater to readers of romance literature when she opened the store. In October, she told DCNewsNow.com she saw a gap when it came to providing romance-centric offerings to the reading community. Man arrested for trying to kidnap woman from dog park, Alexandria police say “I think I have a really good catalog for everybody, so I’m hoping I have a little bit of something for everybody, which also means, within every sub-category, within fantasy romance, you’re going to find queer stories, BIPOC authors, disabled rep, like I’m trying to get all the most popular sub-categories and find a little something for everybody,” Fortin explained in October. After the fire on Sunday, Fortin explained online that her shop had extensive smoke damage from the fire, adding that the building wouldn't be usable at least through the end of 2024, noting that it could be longer. Little Birdies Boutique, a shop offering items for children and women, is another tenant in the building. It posted on its Facebook page about the fire and said that it lost all of its merchandise as a result. A third business, Madame Coco Emporium & Everything Chocolate, shared on Instagram that it was "shaken by the losses, not just of our own space, but of the incredible women-owned businesses that were also impacted." It went on to say that although the damage was "immense, our spirits remain rooted in hope and resilience...Together, we will rebuild."