Decorah Woman Re-Opens Restaurant in Honor of Her Daughter

By Katie Wiedemann, Reporter

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By Katie Wiedemann

Story Created: Feb 25, 2010 at 5:48 PM CST

Story Updated: Feb 25, 2010 at 6:36 PM CST

DECORAH- A Decorah restaurant is open again eight months after a fire damaged the building and killed the owner's daughter.

Chelsea Hart, 25, died in the apartment above the restaurant.

It happened at Hart's Tea and Tarts just hours after flames engulfed the building. The fire destroyed almost everything inside.

The well-know tea shop is back open, thanks to a little help from Hart's friends.

The little English tea shop sits nestled in the heart of downtown Decorah.
Customers love it here. But it's not just about the tea or what some call the fabulous food. It's about Peggy Hart's warm, hospitable smile.

Katie Lawless said, "We got to know Peggy who is a wonderful person and makes everybody feel like you are her favorite customer."

So when that fire struck, stealing Chelsea from her family, it was the customers and the community who stepped up to help.

"I wanted it to be as close as it could to when Chelsea was in her last because she loved it very much."

Hart re-built and re-opened in honor of her daughter. Now those customers and friends are back, enjoying the food and atmosphere.

Hart said, "I think she would be thrilled. She’d be very proud of all of us that we did it and we did it for her."

Hart says her daughter's spirit is all over the restaurant. It's in the tea that bears her name. She sees Chelsea in the walls and in the customers who faithfully return.

Lawless said, "I think the community rose to the occasion and that's Decorah too."

And that's the spirit of this little English tea room, nestled in the heart of Downtown Decorah.

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