- David Reamer
- I hardly knew thee…
We reported last week on the fire that put Alberta’s Aviary temporarily out of commission. This week, the news is slightly better. Though it’ll be awhile before chefs Sarah Pliner, Jasper Shen, and Kat Whitehead get their beloved kitchen back, a couple other other portland restauranteurs are lending them their own. Sunday and Monday nights, Kurt Huffman and Andy Ricker are lending out Ping for a series of prix fix dinners (five courses for $48). The first dinner will be held on Monday, July 18, and Sunday service begins July 31. For reservations, email info@aviarypdx.com.
Firehouse Restaurant is pitching in as well. Monday July 25th, they’ll host a fundraiser for their NE brothers in arms. The suggested donation is a minimum of $35 per person, which will you a four course meal topped off with Aviary’s signature beer ice cream. Call Firehouse to make reservations, as there’s only one seating. (503) 954-1702.
Did they not have insurance?
Probably insured, but it’s only been a few days and they don’t have magic. Duh.
@D: It can take upwards of a year for insurance to pay out. And even then, the odds are that they’ll just get the cost of replacement of the destroyed equipment and rebuilding. In the meantime they and their staff are out of work.
They also ought to be carrying business interruption insurance. Most commercial landlords require it, so that you can pay your rent if anything happens to a, say, notoriously thin-margin business like a restaurant.
Graham is correct, though – despite their “good hands” promises, insurance companies aren’t actually in the business of paying claims fairly and promptly.
They are rather in the business of holding on to premium dollars for as long as humanly possible, as they make most of their money investing those premiums.
@CC: Thanks for the heads up on the business interruption whatchamacallit.