Calico County Workers Will Receive Pay While Restaurant Closed [Times Record, Fort Smith, Ark.]

Nov. 28--Calico County employees gathered Tuesday afternoon to hear future plans for the landmark restaurant that was heavily damaged in a fire Monday morning.

His voice breaking with emotion, Calico County President Lance LaRoche told a group of employees gathered outside the restaurant: "When I got that call Monday morning, the first thing I thought about was all of you. I was worried about how you were going to get paid."

But he said after receiving some "really good news" from Calico County's insurance company, he could promise them they would continue to receive regular paychecks while the restaurant is being put back into business.

Scott Blair, Calico County partner, told the workers that restaurant co-founder Jerry LaRoche insisted from its opening they insure themselves to a maximum level.

"We bought some good policies," Blair said. Among coverage is payment of salaries for the restaurant's 60 employees, he said.

What form that reopening will take, and in what location it will occur, remains to be determined.

Jerry LaRoche said rebuilding at the existing location at 2409 S. 56th St. could take as long as six months. Locating, outfitting and opening another restaurant could be accomplished in three to four months, he said.

"Our immediate concern was taking care of you all," Blair told employees, adding the compensation would not only provide a financial cushion for workers, but would help the restaurant retain its loyal and experienced staff until they can return to their jobs.

Blair said beginning Friday, meetings will be held with employees to determine their specific pay, and to deal with issues like compensation for tips, insurance coverage and retirement.

Employees' reaction to the news was universally positive. April Courtney, who has been working as a hot prep cook and waitress, said she has been at Calico County about three months.

"It was not something I expected," she said of the continued salary. She said upon learning of the fire, she was "pretty much distraught," concerned over caring for her children, paying bills that would be due next week and wondering what kind of Christmas she would be able to provide her family.

But she said since she was hired, the restaurant owners have "embraced me, made me feel good about myself."

Ethan Cole, a five-year employee who works as a caterer, said while losing his job to the fire was "very stressful," he was confident the owners "would come through for us," adding, "They are very employee-oriented."

Summer Simpson has been a hostess at Calico County for four months, but said her ties to the restaurant have been strengthened by her mother's employment there "since I was a little girl."

Simpson said she welcomes the continued pay, but added, "It's so sad that I can't come to work."

Carole LaRoche, a partner in Calico County, said since its opening in the mid 1980s she has done every job at the Fort Smith restaurant except cook. She said in those years, she came to consider the employees as family.

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