'We're hanging in there'

COEUR d’ALENE — The Garnet Cafe has been closed since it was damaged during an electrical fire more than a month ago.

Since, it’s been a struggle for co-owners Kristin Von Till and Paige Fink to keep up with a mounting stack of bills.

“Things got pretty dire,” Von Till said.

Until Wednesday.

A long-awaited insurance payment finally arrived, following what seemed like endless red-tape delays. It provided hope they could open in four weeks.

“That turned things around,” Von Till said.

The restaurant at 3646 N. Government Way had about 25 full- and part-time employees before the Sept. 14 fire that caused minor structural damage, but significant smoke damage.

Some of those employees found other jobs. Some filed for unemployment benefits. Many are waiting to return to the Garnet Cafe and the camaraderie they shared with servers and kitchen staff.

“There’s a family atmosphere among the employees,” Von Till said.

She has watched employees' children grow up in the five years since she bought the business. Fink came onboard as co-owner about three years ago.

The Garnet used to be located in the Midtown area on Walnut Avenue before moving to its current home a few years ago.

“It's part of the fabric for everyone, including us,” Von Till said.

Their biggest concern since the fire has been for their employees.

“They are our first priority,” Von Till said.

“The employees that are trying to stick with us through this deserve all the help we can muster,” she wrote in Facebook post.

Since the electrical fire, a GoFundMe account to help the Garnet Cafe stay afloat was started by a former employee, Morgan Mervis.

“The owners are doing everything they can to reopen, and it has been a challenge, financially,” she wrote. “We need your help to save the best restaurant in town. Owners Kristin Von Till and Paige Fink have put so much of their hearts into this business. Let's support them as a community!”

As of Wednesday, the account had raised $1,750. Von Till said that money will be distributed to employees.

"We love the Garnet!" wrote donor Kristin Coffelt.

"I love the Garnet and Kristin," wrote donor Colleen Moore.

Von Till said the initial payment from the insurance company on Wednesday was a relief.

“I was starting to get really worried,” she said. “The insurance money today is a big boost.”

Until then, they haven’t had the money to pay rent, utilities and the usual bills that come with operating a business.

“We're hanging in there,” Von Till said. “Every day, it's something different.”

She declined to say how much Wednesday’s insurance payment was, but said there are still more claims to be filed.

She hopes they can open about Nov. 20.

While some remediation work has been done, painting, cleaning and replacing parts of the interior remain.

Von Till, who also works as a managing broker in real estate, said she and Fink and crew have kept a positive attitude since day one.

“It's the Garnet Cafe,” she said. “We’re down, we’re never out.”

She said people who own restaurants don’t do it because they make tons of money, but because they love it.

“We like to be a part of the community, part of people's lives,” she said.