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Post by citizen on Sept 25, 2012 20:03:28 GMT -5
Fire damages landmark Tides Restaurant in Nahant
By Sean Leonard / The Daily Item
NAHANT — The landmark Tides Restaurant in Nahant will be closed for weeks if not longer after a fire early this morning caused heavy damage to the building.
At 9 a.m. fire investigators and cleanup crews were working on the site. The restaurant's roof had a large hole over the kitchen area, which firefighters apparently opened to vent the blaze. Windows were broken around the establishment. The building does not appear a total loss, however, and it did not appear the fire spread to the dining area.
Tides staff including Owner Mike O'Callahan stood outside the building as investigators and a salvage team worked at the scene.
O'Callahan said he was alerted at about 2 a.m. that the alarm was sounding at the restaurant, and he arrived on site at 2:30 a.m.
Shortly after 9 a.m. he said he had yet to be informed by fire investigators the extent of damage or what might have caused the blaze.
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Post by citizen on Sept 26, 2012 10:24:11 GMT -5
Fire damages Nahant landmark Tides By Kait Taylor / The Daily Item
NAHANT — Hungry regulars of Tides Restaurant showed up for dinner as usual Tuesday evening to find yellow caution tape wrapped around the front porch.
To Nahant resident Joyce Hanes, it seemed to be the only sign that a fire had heavily damaged the restaurant's interior on Tuesday morning, leading the restaurant to close its doors for the next few weeks or more.
"Other than this bit of yellow tape, it doesn't look that different," said Hanes.
According to Nahant Fire Captain Dean Palombo, the fire began in the basement around 2:40 a.m. and progressed to the upper floors and the kitchen of the restaurant. Palombo said fire was under control at 3:22 a.m. and finally went out at about 4 a.m. "It went pretty well," he said. "It was a good stop."
Palombo estimated smoke and structural damage to the kitchen walls to be about $200,000, and expects the restaurant to be closed for two weeks.
The cause of the fire is unknown and is under investigation by the State Fire Marshal's office.
Kitchen worker Ruben Mejia said when he finished his shift Monday at 11 p.m. there was "no problem." With no notice of the fire, Mejia showed up for his shift shortly before 5 p.m. on Tuesday, just as confused as the regulars.
Hanes, who lives down the street from Tides, said she had no idea about the fire until she heard about it at work Tuesday morning. A member of the Nahant Women's Club, Hanes said she often attends fundraisers at the restaurant, and suspected many others would be disappointed they would be without the community hotspot for events and dinners. "There's been a restaurant here forever," she said.
"Where are we going to go now? The best restaurant in Nahant is closed down," said Tony Figueiredo, who arrived Tuesday looking for a quick dinner before his Odd Fellows meeting. His friend Leon Small said they often hold meetings at Tides.
Jenny Montague of Nahant said she comes to Tides once or twice a week. "The food's good, it's close to home and there's nice people. It's easy to grab a beer here, and the people know each other," she said.
Tides owner Mike O'Callahan could not be reached for comment on Tuesday, but a sign on the back entrance of the restaurant said Tides will "reopen as soon as possible."
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Post by citizen on Sept 29, 2012 3:43:36 GMT -5
Nahant to hold fundraiser for Tides staff By Kait Taylor / The Daily Item
NAHANT — Days after the damaging fire led Tides Restaurant to close its doors, Nahant residents are more concerned with helping the out-of-work employees than where to eat.
School Committee member Kerri McKinnon said she and Police Dispatcher Roz Pulio started making calls on the morning of the fire to plan a fundraising effort for the approximately 70 employees who found themselves out of a job last Tuesday.
"Nobody expected this to happen," said McKinnon. "Unemployment doesn't immediately kick in, and most wait staff live off tips. With the economy how it is, not everybody has a six-month crisis fund anymore."
McKinnon said she became close with the familiar staff at Tides, where she spent a lot of time as a newcomer to the town five years ago. Now, a night at the Tides is her Tuesday night tradition. "I have seen the staff at all transitions in their lives. I have watched them have babies, graduate college, get married. We know what they do, but we also value what they do ... they give and they give and they give, and I just couldn't sit back and do nothing."
After some quick planning, McKinnon said a Relief for Tides Employees fundraiser is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 7 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Nahant Lifesaving Station. The organizers are asking for a $5 donations to attend the event, where there will be food, raffles (including a 50-50 pot), live bands and a DJ.
McKinnon said she is aiming high with a fundraising goal of $20,000 since even Tides owner Mike O'Callahan has no way of knowing when the restaurant will re-open. "Mike is determined to get employees back into their jobs," said McKinnon. "He doesn't want to lose them."
The effort to reach out to Tides employees is coming from outside the town as well. Prince Pizzeria owner Steve Castraberti offered to find shifts for Tides employees at his eatery until they can return to work, whether they work in the kitchen or waiting on tables. "I'd like to help out any way we can being in the same business," said Castraberti.
McKinnon said she is already receiving donations for food and raffle items for the event. "I'm just overwhelmed by the generosity and kindness of the community," she said. "I'm just blown away."
Those who wish to make donations but cannot attend the event can send checks to Relief for Tides Employees Fund c/o Equitable Cooperative Bank, 28 Nahant Road, Nahant, MA 01908.
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Post by citizen on Oct 16, 2012 13:59:10 GMT -5
Discovery enlivens Nahant restaurant restoration By Kait Taylor/The Daily Item
NAHANT — A broken, rusty shotgun was found in the ceiling of Tides Restaurant as crews continue to work to restore the eatery to its pre-fire condition.
Nahant Police Officer Paul Manley said the gun was described as an “older, severely rusted bolt action 12-gauge shotgun” in the report. “My assumption is that it had been there a fair amount of time based on its condition,” said Manley. He added that no one has claimed the gun yet.
Tides owner Mike O’Call-aghan said he has no idea how long the firearm could have been hidden at the establishment. He turned the shotgun over to police after a worker found it at around 4 p.m. last Wednesday.
“It was old and broken, but I didn’t want to throw it in the Dumpster,” said O’Callaghan.
The shotgun was recovered while workers emptied the building of anything that was damaged from the electrical fire on the morning of Sept. 25. O’Callaghan said Monday he is anticipating four more weeks of repairs before the restaurant re-opens.
He added that later this week that appliances will be delivered, but the boards, ceiling and insulation of the restaurant need to be replaced.
“The first week was pretty rough,” said O’Callaghan. “You don’t expect something like this, but you have to take it all in. You can’t just sit around.”
O’Callaghan said local contractors were at the restaurant the day after the fire to start the restoration, and they are working daily to have it ready for the re-opening.
In the meantime, Kerri McKinnon said the Relief for Tides Employees fundraiser hit its overall goal of raising $20,000 for the out-of-work employees with its event at Kelley Greens on Sunday, Oct. 7, which she said was packed with about 500 people.
“It was amazing just to see how generous the community is,” said McKinnon. “People came out in droves. It was a beautiful thing. I don’t think Mike realizes the difference he makes in people’s lives.”
O’Callaghan said Tides employees have also found shifts to work at local eateries Kelley Greens, Prince Pizzeria, Porthole Pub and Red Rock Bistro.
“The support from customers in town is unbelievable,” said O’Callaghan. “Everybody’s been great.”
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Post by uzojpalawew on Oct 23, 2019 23:10:55 GMT -5
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