East Harlem Community Rallies to Support Santiago's Beer Garden After Fire

Restaurant Fire and Immediate Aftermath

• 🔥 A fire tore through Santiago's Beer Garden in East Harlem on November 19th during prime business hours.
• 💨 The fire spread rapidly, forcing everyone to evacuate the premises.
• 🏚️ The building remains shut down, with the owner working to determine its re-openability.
• 🔍 FDNY is currently investigating the cause of the fire, which is not yet determined.

Impact on Employees and Holiday Plans

• 😔 The fire left 30 employees out of work just before the holiday season.
• 🦃 The restaurant had planned to donate Thanksgiving meals to local schools, but all the food had to be discarded.

Community Support and Rebuilding Efforts

• 🤝 The East Harlem community has shown incredible generosity, reaching out to help the staff.
• 💸 A GoFundMe was started by the owner to provide two months of pay for employees, offering them a financial cushion.
• 🍲 Community members are assisting staff with finding new jobs, providing food, and donating turkeys.
• 🏢 The owner is working with the city's Department of Small Business Services and submitting an insurance claim to aid in the rebuilding process.