Wellington restaurateurs ‘forever thankful’ for community support after house fire
A community is rallying around Wellington restaurateurs who say they lost many of their personal belongings in a house fire this week.
Hasan Alwarhani says when he and wife Flora Quintana, jointly behind popular Syrian restaurant Damascus, returned to their Brooklyn home after the school and kindy drop-off last Monday, they arrived to fire engines and alarms sounding.
“All our belongings just disappeared within 10 minutes, it’s heartbreaking.”
Alwarhani said the family had practically nothing left, save for some clothing that were in the cupboards.
The house was insured, he said, but they didn’t have insurance for things like appliances.
The Syrian-born chef said he and his family have been staying in their landlord’s home since the fire, while they look for somewhere else to live.
Alwarhani said he was very grateful for the support his landlord was providing his family at this time. He said they were touched by the love and support they’d received from the Brooklyn community, calling it “honestly heartwarming”.
The couple have two young children, one school-aged, and one attending kindergarten. Alwarhani said their kindergarten had given his young son books and toys.
“It was really emotional for the kids, not being able to go home, [and] knowing they lost all their toys they were really attached to.”
Others in the community had offered clothes and other items, he said.
“People have been so generous. It’s amazing, [I’m] thankful for them forever.”
Alwarhani said it had been a “hell of a week” – it was “really, really draining” knowing that you’re not able to go home, he added.
The support of the team at Damascus, keeping the business open and running throughout the week – in his and Quintana’s absence – was also invaluable, he said.
Damascus was featured in the New York Times in an article on things to do in Wellington.