SAINT MARIES, Idaho, – The Big Eddy Bar and Grill caught fire Friday morning around 3 a.m. seven days after its new owners reopened to the public.
Michael Harter began looking at buying The Big Eddy in January. He bought the building on March 4th and began renovations to get the restaurant ready for the summer.
He was asleep in the second story of the building when he woke up from the smell of smoke coming from the room next door.
“I didn’t know what to expect behind that door, and I opened it up, and it got out of hand quickly,” Harter said.
By 3:40 a.m. the Calder Fire district had arrived on scene and the building was nearly fully engulfed, the fire department said.
Harter and his son, along with an employee and their child, all got out of the building safely.
Harter had been preparing all week for the Race the Joe jet boat races set to take place on the river right beside The Big Eddy.
“Everybody is sitting here expecting to watch the jetboats. So yea, we are not prepared anymore,” Harter said.
The community saw the need and have stepped in to fill the gaps left by the fire. Food trucks, a beer vendor, and countless people reaching out to help make the visitors to the area feel welcomed. Serving the guests is what Harter wants, even after losing the building, and the support has been overwhelming.
“Everybody has made tremendously generous offers. Really, it’s really humbling, because this is sad and terrible but I have all my people. And now I have more people, more support, it’s extraordinary,” Harter said.
Harter wants to do anything he can to serve customers this weekend and let them enjoy the races. Looking to the future, he has put too much into this to back away now, he said. There are already tentative plans to work on getting the business back as soon as possible.
“Rebuilding The Big Eddy, I’m looking forward to putting some new timber back in the air there,” Harter said.
