A fire last week destroyed part of a long-standing Texas cafe and impacted neighboring businesses, and its owners are picking up the pieces and figuring out their next steps.
The kitchen of Wimberley Cafe, a 21-year-old all-day restaurant in the middle of Wimberley—a city about 40 miles southwest of Austin in the Texas Hill Country—caught fire early Tuesday morning. The Hays County Fire Marshal’s Office told KVUE in Austin the Wimberley Fire Department responded quickly to the report, but the fire did plenty of damage.
In all, owner Jay Bachman told KVUE the blaze caused about $1 million in damage. On Friday, Bachman and wife Jen took to social media to address their customers.
“We are heartbroken by the fire at Wimberley Cafe. Our hearts are with our staff and the neighboring businesses that were also affected,” read the social media message Friday by owners Jay and Jen Bachman. “We’re working with our neighbors as we all figure out what comes next.”
The cafe is in the heart of Wimberley and shares walls with fellow businesses Jeanne’s Fashions (a clothing boutique), Puppy Love (a pet supply store) and Sip! on the Square (a coffee shop). Some of those businesses suffered smoke and water damage from the fire. Sip! reopened Friday morning.
This isn’t the first time the Bachmans have been up close and personal with disaster. During the devastating Blanco River flood of 2015, which wiped out around 400 homes and caused significant damage in Wimberley, Jay Bachman worked to help feed victims and first responders.
As for the cafe, which opened its doors in 2005: The Bachmans wrote on Facebook that they’ll update the public once they have a handle on a damage assessment. And they are still taking orders for Thanksgiving pies, including their popular rhubarb and peach varieties. The Bachmans also vowed to rebuild the cafe.
“Every call, message, and offer to help has meant more than we can put into words,” read the message Friday. “We’re so grateful to call this town home.”
Dining and Cooking