A persian rug, antique and second-hand store is doing its bit to help hard-up residents during the recession.

Shiraz Galleria, which is run by entrepreneur Mitra Johnston, will be holding a sale at CedarBridge Academy on Saturday, December 4, and every item in the store will be half price until Christmas.

Ms Johnston lost $300,000 worth of goods after her previous store was burnt down in an arson attack in July 2009. She did not have insurance cover and was left suffering from stress-related illness.

But far from being disillusioned by the experience, she still believes in the place which has been her home for the past 20 years and now wants to give something back to the community in exchange for the help and support she has received since the incident.

In September when Hurricane Igor hit the Island, she contacted David Burch, the former Minister of Labour, Home Affairs and Housing, to offer free beds and other furniture to residents in need.

Originally from Iran, Ms Johnston met her husband Barry Johnston 20 years ago and the couple started a business called the London Beauty Clinic, before going into the restaurant trade and launching Shiraz Cafe. But after her landlord decided not to renew her lease she tried her hand in the second-hand market, renting a small garage on North Shore for $400 per month.

Then she came up with the idea of selling Persian and Iranian rugs and expanded the enterprise into a new premises on Reid Street, prior to the move to Court Street. She lost a number of priceless antiques, Persian rugs and silks, and Manchurian ivory to smoke damage from the blaze.

However since the relocation to Serpentine Road next to the former HomeZone site, Ms Johnston has established herself once again specialising in original hand-made Persian and Iranian rugs crafted using natural vegetable dyes.

"It is like a fine art that people really appreciate because of the effort that goes into making them," she said.

She also stocks antique and Bermuda cedar furniture and doors and maintains her line in second-hand merchandise, such as televisions, beds, desks and chairs, as well as refurbishing and refinishing old furniture.

"Right now with the recession people really can't afford to go out and buy brand new stuff," she said.

"People are downsizing sometimes because they are getting older and are moving into a smaller condo and they give their stuff away.

"I believe in recycling and what better than to recycle furniture rather than burning it and chucking it in the dump.

"Old furniture is decent and lasts a long time and you don't have to spend much on it."

Ms Johnston said that one visitor remarked they had never seen a store like hers in Bermuda and she has a loyal following of customers who come in regularly to see what treasures they can find.

For more information about Shiraz Galleria contact 292-5354, 705-3738 or 336-9996, email mitrajohnston@aol.com or visit the website at www.auctiondemitra.com