Local News

<< Previous   of   Next >> Michael O'Leary / The Herald  (click to enlarge) An early morning, three-alarm fire destroyed Emory's restaurant on the east side of Silver Lake in south Everett on Monday. Doug Ramsay / For The Herald  (click to enlarge) Firefighters work to control a fire at Emory’s restaurant on Silver Lake early Monday morning. The three-alarm fire destroyed the restaurant. (click to enlarge) (click to enlarge) Doug Ramsay/ For The Herald Firefighters work to control a fire at Emory's Restaurant on SIlver Lake Monday morning. The three-alram fire destroyed the restaurant.   ADVERTISEMENT   Help Emory’s staff You may donate cash to help the staff of Emory’s on Silver Lake, which was destroyed by a fire Monday morning, at Citybank, 1504 132nd St. SE, Mill Creek. The name of the fund is “Emory’s Assist 2009.”   Related Stories • For many cougars, it's one night only 11/10/09   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Tuesday, November 10, 2009 Fire destroys Emory's restaurant The popular eatery was a fixture on Silver Lake for 15 years By Jackson Holtz and Debra Smith Herald Writers EVERETT — Emory's restaurant, a Silver Lake fixture for the past 15 years known for its waterfront deck, warm service and stiff martinis, was destroyed Monday by an early morning fire. Flames crowded the dining room and burst onto the deck. Thick black smoke rose over the lake and by sunrise only the burnt shell of the restaurant remained standing. “It's devastating,” said owner Emory Cole, of Mukilteo. “You just never think this is going to happen to you.” A note Monday on the restaurant's Web site said, “We are out of business indefinitely.” Emory's opened in 1994 on the site of the former Silver Beach Resort, a private park dating back to the 1930s. The resort offered cabins for rent and a swimming dock with a giant wheel and a 20-foot slide, said local historian Jack O'Donnell. The restaurant began as a dream when Cole was the mayor of Mukilteo in the late 1980s, he said. He'd learned about economic development in the region and hunted out real estate to begin his own restaurant business. The acreage beside Silver Lake on a busy street seemed perfect and it already was zoned for a restaurant. Still, it took years to get the proper permits. Emory's, which featured Mediterranean and Asian-inspired cuisine, quickly became a popular hangout for locals. People came to pass warm summer evenings on the restaurant's deck and enjoy live music. “It's a real loss of a signature gathering place for south Everett residents,” Mayor Ray Stephanson said. Stephanson said he often dined at the lakefront restaurant and was friendly with the owner and his wife. He was saddened by news of the fire. “I'm just sick about it,” he said. “My heart goes out to them.” Fire investigators were trying Monday to determine what sparked the early morning blaze. Flames were first reported around 4:20 a.m. Firefighters rushed to the scene and arrived to find the building engulfed. Thick black smoke rose high above the lake and a stiff morning breeze pushed the column to the north. More fire crews were summoned. By the time the flames were knocked down, it was a three-alarm emergency. Firefighters from around Snohomish County helped Everett's crews battle the blaze. The racket woke up Shannon Chou, a neighbor who lives across Silver Lake from the popular restaurant. She first heard popping noises and then sirens. By the time she peered outside, the restaurant was ablaze. “It was frightening,” she said. “I was actually afraid.” A ringing phone Monday woke up Cole. He rushed to his business expecting nothing more serious than a false alarm. “I couldn't believe what I saw,” he said. Monday was to be Cole's first day back at work after a European vacation. He and his wife, Molly, just returned Friday. “What a thing to come back to,” he said. Now Cole is concerned how the 50 people who rely on him for a paycheck will survive. “They aren't going to have a very good Christmas,” Cole said. Until this morning's fire, the restaurant's staff was gearing up for the holiday season, and starting to book tables for the Thanksgiving meal. While small flames still licked at the building Monday morning, several employees gathered in a cold drizzle. They said the business was like a family. Now, former waiters and bartenders said they'll have to update resumes and start trying to find new jobs in a slumping economy. By mid-morning, Barbara Vanells, who lives in the Silver Lake neighborhood, and her sister Michelle McSpadden braved heavy rain to visit the site. McSpadden's son called early Monday morning to tell her about the fire. “I was devastated,” she said. The sisters were regular customers. They said the place always offered good service. “It was the only nice place to eat right around here,” Vanells said. Cole said he'll have to wait for insurance officials to examine the building's remains and determine the next steps. Stephanson said he was already hearing rumblings that Cole will rebuild. “I sure hope he does,” the mayor said. Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3437, jholtz@heraldnet.com. READER COMMENTS Log in or register to post new comment | Log out Put your money elsewhere........ As someone who manages a restaurant I can tell you that these employees have had their chance to make plenty of money. It's very sad they lost their jobs for now but they are eliigible for unemployment, and 20% of our county knows how that feels! There are plenty of other places that need your donations. The Everett Food Bank literally has one week of food left and the demand grows higher everyday. There are families that cannot afford Thanksgiving dinner, animal shelters are overflowing, kids that have no clothing to wear to school, battered women shelters, and those that are living in their cars. For anyone to believe this group is charity case is silly, and if it is the employees of this restaurant that started this, shame on them for being greedy. This may be insensitive, but in an economy where people are blessed to have jobs I don't feel that bad for them. There are far more people in this area in way worse shape than a group of servers that make VERY good money in tips. Hopefully they have been claiming their tips! Most servers do not report their tips (to avoid paying taxes) as part of their wages and therefore they don't count towards unemployment. k c | Nov 11, 2009 8:58 am | 7 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal saddened I remember many many family gatherings during the holidays at Emorys as well as birthdays and other good times.Looking out over the lake watching the ducks ,geese,and the fishermen.I even had a first date there.It was a great place in a very nice location.I sure hope the owners rebuild.I;ll be the first one at the door.Staff was always friendly and looked to you;r needs.One of the better places around here.Not as loud as Anthonys. john nordin | Nov 10, 2009 7:03 am | 2 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal Help Emorys' Staff and Crew An account has been established to collect donations from the community to assist the staff of Emory's Lakehouse Restaurant, which burned down yesterday; the employees woke up in the morning to get ready to go to work and found that their jobs had burned down. To make a donation, the account information is as follows: Emory's Assist 2009 Citybank 1504 132nd St., SE Mill Creek, WA 98012 Please help get the word out to the community; there are so many people who would like to help, but in situations like these we all feel so powerless. Please help empower them to help their neighbors, especially as we enter the holiday season. Thank you very much. Emory's Assist 2009 Tracey Silla | Nov 10, 2009 9:04 am | 0 replies | View all | Post reply | Request removal

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