March 30, 2023 at 11:28 a.m.
Dinky Diner 'a total loss'
Dinky Diner 'a total loss'
The cause of the fire is under investigation, he added.
Rhinelander firefighters were called to the restaurant, located at 230 Thayer St., just before 6 p.m. Tuesday as dark smoke could be seen billowing from the back of the building. They were soon joined by firefighters from the Pine Lake and Pelican fire departments who responded to a request for mutual aid.
Almost immediately a crowd began to gather in the area known for decades as the hollow, home of the city's "hobo jungle" in the Depression era. Friends and customers embraced the diner's owners, Rick Covin and Terrie Bowman, and offered words of support while watching the fire crews work to contain the fire.
Covin stated they had closed for the day at approximately 2 p.m. and no one was inside the restaurant at the time. The building dates back to 1896, he said.
Many in the crowd could be heard expressing their love of the restaurant, a fixture in the community, as well as its predecessor the former Sportsman's Cafe, a popular hangout for generations of Rhinelander residents.
According to Tonnancour, Rhinelander firefighters were able to "initiate an aggressive fire attack to stop the extension of fire into neighboring occupancies."
The adjacent apartments were evacuated to safety and all occupants were accounted for by Rhinelander Fire and Police, he said. The Reve coffee bar, at 232 Thayer, suffered slight smoke damage, according to the fire department.
There were no reports of injuries on-scene, and no medical care was requested, Tonnancour added.
Six residents have been temporarily displaced due to power and gas being turned off to the units. The Red Cross is assisting residents with temporary shelter.
Early Wednesday morning, the owners of the diner expressed their devastation in a Facebook post.
"My heart is broken. Not just for the loss of our business, but for all that it stands for," the post reads. "We've worked to make R&T's Dinky Diner a second home for our customers. Our motto is 'where good friends gather' and we honestly mean it. Our staff is our family, and we are so concerned about them, as well. We are working to make sure they survive and thrive. The next few days will surely be a whirlwind as we gather information and see what the future holds for us. Thank you to every firefighter, every sheriff, every city officer, every customer who stood in the cold to comfort us. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts. This town and its people are our backbone, and with them we will keep standing. We love you all and will keep everyone up to date with whatever happens next."
The owner of The Reve also posted an update for customers.
"Due to a structure fire in the building next to us, we are not able to conduct business," the post reads. "We will give out information about The Reve's progress on the situation as soon as we can. We appreciate your prayers & support. Thanks to our customers we have come this far, and we will not give up."
The Rhinelander Fire Department press release included a thank you to the Rhinelander Police Department, Oneida County sheriff's deputies, Pine Lake Fire Rescue, Pelican Fire and Rescue, the Red Cross, WPS, Oneida County EMS, and the Salvation Army for their quick response to the scene and assistance to the affected residents.
Heather Schaefer may be reached at [email protected].
Comments:
You must login to comment.