Fire tore through a Fells Point bridal store Sunday night, pouring gray smoke above Eastern Avenue and driving out the first firefighters to arrive.

Crews evacuated as the flames spread in the second and third floors above Bridal Fashions by Niko, a family-owned designer dress store on Eastern Avenue.

The business was empty when firefighters arrived about 8 p.m. and no one was hurt, said Sam Johnson, the Fire Department spokesman.

“Oh my gosh, the dresses,” said Lynda Sebastianelli, who lives across the street. “There's like hundreds of thousands of dollars of beautiful, beautiful dresses.”

The cause of the fire was also unknown Sunday night. Firetrucks blocked off Eastern Avenue around the shop and crews wrapped police tape to keep back the crowds. They sprayed water into the windows upstairs and into the back of the building at 1707 Eastern Ave.

Dee Walker, an owner of nearby Prime Steakhouse, had noticed the smoke and hurried to warn families in the apartments above the shop.

“I was banging on the doors,” Walker said. “I helped two families out and called 911.”

Firefighters worked more than an hour to control flames at the shop founded in 1982, according to its website. It offers the “largest and finest selection of designer wedding gowns.”

The store's owners could not be reached for comment late Sunday.

Sebastianelli and her husband, Armand, watched from across Eastern Avenue. Armand Sebastianelli said he first noticed the smoke rising from the rear of the shop.

One year ago, Lynda Sebastianelli bought a taupe dress from Niko's for a wedding. She remembered the kindly staff who tailored her dress for free.

“Inside, it's beautiful,” she said, watching the smoke rise. “They're very meticulous. The clothes are so well taken care of.”

tprudente@baltsun.com