Hopeful glimmer after fire
AMIGO’S Bar and Grill owner Barry Hodges is slowly coming to terms with the devastating loss of his family business.
The popular Margaret St restaurant was razed on Tuesday night after a fire took hold in the kitchen area and engulfed the premises.
The inferno is believed to have started under the floorboards and quickly spread, fuelled by the timber structure and furnishings inside.
The fire destroyed Amigo’s and Adrenalin Climbing Gym which fronted Church St at the rear, leaving nothing but rubble after it was demolished on Wednesday afternoon.
It was a devastating blow to the two businesses but Mr Hodges has a small glimmer of hope.
“Every morning you wake up and it’s Groundhog Day,” he told The Chronicle.
“You have to remember that it’s gone.
“You get yourself up and get ready to go to work and then remember you can’t.”
Mr Hodges’ first concern after the fire was his 19 staff employed at Amigo’s, and put the call out for other businesses to consider hiring them.
A number of restaurants and businesses have since come forward with vacancies which Mr Hodges said had given him some measure of comfort.
He said the Spotted Cow had taken on four school-based trainees in temporary work placements which allowed them to continue with their assessments under special arrangements with the Department of Education.
“The Spotted Cow has been really good, doing as much as they can,” he said.
“We’ve been able to get a couple of the staff positions.”
Insurance assessors are reviewing the site and Queensland Fire and Emergency Services investigators said it was unlikely a definitive cause would be known because of the extent of the damage.
“Even is the insurance comes through, and it depends on what they find, but it wouldn’t be anywhere near enough to even look at reopening,” Mr Hodges said.
Anyone with a position vacant can email Mr Hodges at bhodgesbb@dodo.com.au.