The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
The owners of the fire-ravaged Chicken Chef Family Restaurant are looking over their options during this stressful time. Dan and Dawn Hlady, who took over the business in November 2004, say they would like to rebuild, but they are still waiting to hear back about their insurance. The couple got the phone call notifying them of the blaze at 4:50 a.m. on Friday, October 19. They had initially thought an employee was calling in sick or, worse, that there had been a break-in. The Hladys made their way to their business, where all they could do was watch, helplessly. "That was the worst part," says Dan, "just standing there watching and there was nothing we could do." "Three years of hard work up in smoke," adds Dawn. But the fire damage could have been a lot worse than it was, Dan says. "It was only the attic that burnt with some water damage on the inside," he says. The Hladys had renovated the restaurant dining room just this past January. Fortunately, the dining room wasn't touched, as the damage "was only in the kitchen (and roof)," says Dawn. While many older buildings are made of wood, the Chicken Chef had metal supports, along with brick, which could have helped to keep it standing. And because the fire was deemed electrical and not arson, says Dan, there is a shorter wait time with the insurance. While the owners say they would like to rebuild, they haven't made any final decisions. In addition to the stress of the fire, Dawn was also due to give birth that day.
