Community rallies around Idaho steakhouse employees after devastating fire

After the Wolf Lodge Steakhouse was destroyed in a fire Monday, Naomi Boutz had a recurring thought. 

“If this were me, if I lost one of my restaurants, what would be the most helpful?” 

It didn’t take long for the owner of Vine and Olive Eatery and Wine Bar and Vicino Pizza in Riverstone to come up with an answer. 

On Monday, Sept. 16, she will host a free dinner at Vicino Pizza and provide other gifts to the 33 employees of the iconic restaurant that burned to the ground on Labor Day. 

It left behind a heartbroken and devastated crew of longtime employees. 

“They need a place to be together, just to give them that space to be together,” Boutz said Friday. “So that’s what I’m doing.” 

Already, support for the event is strong. Boutz’ distributors pitched in with beer and wine donations, and US Foods is helping cover costs.

Boutz wants to send each Wolf Lodge employee home with a care package that includes gift cards for groceries and gas.

"Just something for their team to know that this community cares about them,” she said. “The end of the tourist season is a very tough time to look for a new hospitality job. This will hopefully help them get through the weeks ahead until they find another job.” 

She said the famous restaurant 8 miles east of Coeur d’Alene was like a second home to many of the staff. Some had worked there for decades.  

Boutz isn’t surprised that so many want to do something.

“People loved Wolf Lodge. It’s such a big part of our community,” she said. “The community is looking for ways to help.” 

Others are doing what they can.  

Three GoFundMe accounts for Wolf Lodge employees have raised about $25,000. 

Boutz said people can drop off gift cards and donations at Vine and Olive through Sept. 13. She said Wolf Lodge staff are likely feeling discouraged and could use all the support they can get. She hopes to send them home with gift cards that sustain them in the days ahead.

“We just want to show them this they are not alone,” she said. 

General manager Nicole Martel said the noon fire started in the kitchen of the restaurant that dates back to about 1980. Manager Shawn Martel suffered burns trying to put it out. While the restaurant was closed, food was being prepared for employees for a Labor Day picnic. 

It took about 10 fire departments about two hours to contain it, as the old restaurant burned quickly.

The Idaho State Fire Marshal investigated the fire scene Tuesday, but has not yet released information on the cause, other than saying it was accidental.