Rising From the Ashes

Eerie photograph taken roughly a week after demolition had begun... no one was near me,

nor was anyone smoking in the building! Note the image of a man facing left in front of the door...

Week One ~ Assessment

A quick inventory was taken, perishables that escaped the damage were removed and stored.  Calls were made, the claims adjuster came and went numerous times. The inspector to find cause is slated for Saturday, and the bosses have discussed rebuilding ideas, costs, and such.  All ideas still depend upon the outcome of the claim, so the first step is to gut the bad and separate that from the good.  HotorNot Restaurant wants to offer our sincerest gratitude to all of our friends, fans, and families who passed on their goodwill, as well as to those who have offered themselves toward the project.  We love you all.

More information to come... as it happens!

These photos were taken during damage assessment... notice the melted beads on lamp at left, the smoke damage caused the masks to appear more sinister and malevolent, and the fire reached the front (as you can see by the front window).

Update: Circumspect damage assessment done, Jim and Judy (with the help of many friends), begin the work of clearing and inventorying items, and cleaning out the building for interior demolition.  Work with the claims adjustor began once the cause inspector had completed his work.  After a few days, most rooms had been cleared, booths and chairs removed, and salvageable appliances stacked and gathered in the front.  New codes in effect post-grandfather clause throws a large wrench in plan to not only reopen, but begs the question of cost ratio... will we be able to reopen at all?

I have a request to any and all friends, fans, and customers: if you have any ideas or assistance that you can offer to help ease things along in some way, please feel free to email me at spadlo@netzero.net and let me know!  Anything from a way to pull monetary assistance, deals on replacements for everything, from booths and chairs to silverware, plates. appliances, etc.

The bosses want to know they sincerely appreciate all of the goodwill and wishes you all have given, and they are doing everything they can to try to rebuild and restore our favorite venue!

Walls and ceilings shelled

Bye-bye, comfortably ugly booths.. and chairs!

Left: Judy and Missy take a momentary breather. Right: Jim displays his demo tool trifecta..

Not pictured: Ralph, Christine, Mark,  Mary, and their son, who have been offering their manpower

on a regular basis... "THANKYOUTHANKYOUTHANKYOU", says the Js

Okay... now wall after wall, layer after layer, is being stripped down to the original 1840s beginnings.  At least it's lighter now!  The major work is about to begin once the adjustor let's them know where they stand... i & t's to dot and cross, and some SERIOUS calculatin' to be done...

Week Four ~ New Possibilities and Discoveries

All that Remains of the Mural

The cashier's area, the front, and a view of the main area as it is NOW

At this point, most of the shelling is done, and the building has become a hollow peanut, a rough-hewn gem eager to be polished. 

The bosses await word from the insurance, many questions raised and answered... the ghosts of the past haunting as they hope to rebuild to a new, ever greater glory than before.  An extra special thanks to the New Look crew for the demo and removal, down to the original form.

Ideas for a new face with the same cozy feel have been bantered around for a while now, but new discoveries have upped the anticipation of a conceptual rebirth... with little more than the core ideal as the foundation upon which to build anew.  Along this process, demolition has revealed startling nuances, from areas of prominence to accents of distinction.  original framing, hidden windows, a nook towards the back that could be fitting for a bar, and a breathtaking idea for a vaulted ceiling in non-smoking.

Big Jim and the Vaulted Ceiling... the next Harry Potter Book?

We would also like to offer a sincere thank you to NWI Times Joyce Russell and photographer Jeff for their assistance in keeping HotorNot in the spotlight, as it were.

As for the financial aspect, a dimmed hope is still far greater than no flicker at all. Hope remains the lifeblood through the veins of our Rebirth... but isn't that always the way?