BRATTLEBORO — The Marina may be down, but it's not out.
An early-morning fire on July 2 heavily damaged the landmark restaurant off Putney Road, right on the eve of one of its biggest weekends of the year. But owners Jill Johnson and Dennis Smith have vowed to rebuild and hope to have The Marina back in business by next spring.
That optimism was demonstrated at Brattleboro's Fourth of July parade, as a contingent of about 30 current and former employees of The Marina marched and chanted “We'll be back!” to the cheers of the crowd that lined Main Street.
It was a much-needed boost for The Marina's staff, after the shock just two days earlier of seeing their beloved restaurant on the banks of the West River damaged heavily by the fire.
Johnson said she and Smith watched the flames and emergency lights across the West River as they drove down Route 30 early Friday morning. They received a call shortly before 4 a.m.
Brattleboro Fire Chief Mike Bucossi said the fire was reported at 3:06 a.m. When fire crews arrived, Bucossi said that about half of the restaurant was engulfed in flames.
“The kitchen end of the building was fully involved when we got there, and the fire spread into the dining area,” Bucossi said. “We made an initial attempt to fight the fire from the inside, but we didn't get far. It was just too risky.”
Firefighters were kept outside of the building to control the blaze, and Bucossi said the fire was brought under control at 5:35 a.m.
Crews from Putney and Keene and Hinsdale, N.H. assisted on the scene, along with personnel from Rescue Inc, Brattleboro Police and the utilities division of the Department of Public Works.
A preliminary report from Vermont State Police fire investigators concluded that the fire was not suspicious.
“They said it started in the kitchen, but with the electrical wires and gas lines in there, they weren't exactly sure how it started,” said Bucossi. “They just know that it wasn't suspicious.”
The scene at The Marina on Friday afternoon was disheartening. The roof had collapsed above the kitchen, and burn marks surrounded most of the broken windows. Glass shards and litter were scattered about as heartbroken employees and customers gathered to offer support.
The boats docked below on the river were not harmed and that portion of the marina remains open.
“Devastating. I think that's the word of the day,” said Brian “Radar” Patenaude, who has tended bar at the restaurant for 20 years.
Patenaude says he was the last one out at 11:30 p.m.
Despite knowing he closed the building properly, the worry he forgot something still “played on” his mind, Patenaude said.
According to Marina manager Kate Theriault, the fire has left 40 people unemployed. Patenaude said the rainy summer two seasons ago had a negative impact on the business, but finally this summer, the finances were stronger.
The Marina completed a round of renovations two years ago to the 1950s-era structure. The restaurant was painted, the kitchen repaired, and new carpet added.
Theriault said community members were stopping by in a steady stream.
“It's meaningful we've been getting this outpouring of sympathy and support,” said Johnson.
Patenaude said the customers' energy has been the engine keeping the restaurant running over the years.
“We want to rebuild as soon as possible, and hopefully The Marina will be back on its feet soon,” Theriault said.