PUEBLO, Colo.—A 22-year-old woman killed in a downtown Pueblo boutique after an adjacent restaurant exploded is getting her name on a new store being opened by her best friend near the blast site.
Ashley Johnson was at A Classic Boutique when the Branch Inn restaurant exploded after a natural gas leak on November 2008. The explosion leveled the restaurant and the boutique, killing Johnson and injuring seven others. Eugene “Gene” Roney, 74, was buried in the rubble of the explosion for four hours before he was rescued. He died of cancer at a hospice five days later.
Jennifer Flower, who was among those injured, said she and Johnson had always talked about opening a business together. The new boutique, named Ashley’s, opened Tuesday. It’s located about a block from the explosion.
“Of course, we wanted to name it for Ashley,” Flower said.
Johnson’s mother, Connie DeWeese, said during the business’ opening ceremony that she was happy for the gesture.
“It’s been a very tough year but I like to come here,” DeWeese said. “It’s an honor to see her name on the store and I really feel like Ashley is here among us. It gives me peace in a way. I think she’d be very pleased.”
Federal investigators concluded that the explosion was accidental and prosecutors said last year they would not pursue criminal charges against anyone.
———
Information from: The Pueblo Chieftain,
