More than three months after flames ravaged South Surrey's Roadhouse Grille, owners and staff are gearing up to welcome patrons back.
The family owned-and-operated restaurant, located at 1781 King George Blvd., is to reopen on Monday (Aug. 19).
"We're so excited," Shannon Mischuk said Tuesday (Aug. 13). "It's been a journey."
The establishment – owned by Mischuk's parents for more than two decades before they handed the reins to Mischuk's niece, Jana (last name withheld by request) last year – was damaged in an early morning fire on May 6.
Fortunately, the blaze, deemed suspicious, did not cause structural damage, however, the cooler was destroyed, along with approximately $30,000 in food, Mischuk said. As well, extensive cleaning and painting was required to address pervasive smoke damage.
"Delay after delay," in particular with replacement of the custom-made cooler, kept the doors closed – until now.
"We're almost done prepping and we're looking forward to Monday," Mischuk said.
Mischuk noted that all of the restaurant's staff are returning to the fold, including members of her family spanning four generations.
She described the Roadhouse as "an old-fashioned mom-and-pop shop" and promised that patrons – who are asked to email info@roadhousegrille.ca for information or to reserve – will find everything they remember.
She said she couldn't imagine not reopening.
"We live in this community, we serve in this community, we worship in this community," she said. "To have the Roadhouse not be a part of it would just be crushing."
Following the fire, police said a 27-year-old woman was arrested nearby and released on a promise to appear in court at a later date. As well, two men were identified by investigators as "persons of interest."
"When officers were on scene responding to the suspicious fire at the restaurant, business owners in the area reported three additional incidents including two attempted break and enters and a separate act of mischief which included a small fire near a garbage can in the area," a Surrey RCMP news release issued at the time states.
According to online court records, Emily Isabella Geissinger, Dillon Patrick Rawlinson and Nicholas Gerard Whitty are charged with arson damaging property and mischief to property over $5,000. Rawlinson faces an additional charge of "break and enter with intent to commit offence."
Rawlinson was scheduled to appear in Surrey Provincial Court Tuesday morning (Aug. 13), the results of which were not immediately available. Court officials confirmed Rawlinson remained in custody as of that morning, and that warrants have been issued for Geissinger and Whitty.
