Cheechako Taco fire victims picking up pieces

July 23--PLATTSBURGH -- Mikey Bruley, owner of Cheechako Taco, has started a GoFundMe account to get his restaurant back up and running and help his upstairs neighbors get back on their feet.

A fire early on July 8 gutted the 24 Oak Street restaurant, displaced tenants of four apartments and caused smoke damage to adjacent businesses.

"The reason we are raising money is to save not only our livelihood and our families' financial stability but because we care about everything we want Cheech to be," Burley posted on the page.

The Cheechako family considers its patrons friends and family, he continued.

"We plan on taking any donations we receive and putting (them) immediately into getting ourselves back to operating standards so we can rejoin our community better than ever."

LIST OF GOALS

Bruley said his current plan is to produce Cheechako Taco's hot sauce and sell it online to bring in income.

He will give 10 percent of any donations to the GoFundMe account to the restaurant's upstairs neighbors, raising that contribution to 15 percent if $5,000 comes in and 20 percent if $10,000 is donated.

He laid out a list of goals for each milestone of fundraising, with the aim to use the first $1,000 to refine and produce its products for customers.

Once at $2,500, the needs for equipment and inventory replacement would be assessed, and money raised would be put toward where it is most needed.

THANKFUL

Cheechako Taco will host a benefit barbecue for the community if donations reach the $5,000 mark, Bruley said, and dedicate money raised to rebuilding and refurbishing the eatery.

And contributions that total $10,000 to $25,000 would be used to work toward a complete reopen, with funds going toward repairs or a whole new location, as well as "emergent needs of our family and other families affected."

"We are thankful to anyone and everyone who has sent their best wishes and helped us in this time of hardship," Bruley posted.

"At this time, we can't show our appreciation, but as we get back on our feet, we promise we will find a way to make it up to everyone who has helped us in our time of need."

As of Friday, the GoFundMe had brought in $730 of its $25,000 goal.

EXTENSIVE DAMAGE

Trinity Yoga, located at 22A Oak St. next door to Cheechako Taco, sustained heavy smoke damage from the fire.

Owner Lynda Garrand said she met with Josh Chapman, the building's owner, this week, and plans to meet with him again next week.

"Unfortunately, the damage is pretty extensive," Garrand said Thursday.

"It's probably going to have to be gutted and completely rebuilt. I don't know for certain," she added. "I'm still working with the insurance and (P.M.) Leary (Restoration) to decide what has to be done."

Chapman did not return a call from the Press-Republican Friday.

ROUTINE

In the meantime, Garrand has set up shop in a vacant commercial space at 70 Clinton St., located around the corner from her studio.

A friend who owns the building offered her its temporary use.

"We are fortunately able to still offer a full schedule of classes," she said, adding that customers pay by donation for all classes at this point.

The alternative location is a smaller space, so it cannot fit as many people as the studio, but Garrand is thankful that she has been able to keep up her customers' regular routines.

"Our main concern was keeping them in the habit of coming, because once you get out of habits, it's harder to get them back."

This time of year tends to be quieter for the studio, she added, with more people spending time outside in the warm weather.

REGROUPING

A number of other people had offered Garrand space to use for her classes.

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"I can't tell you how supportive everyone has been."

Garrand just put her studio together a year ago, aiming to provide a good atmosphere and experience, which includes aromatherapy, water and tea, and a high-tech sound system.

Though the Clinton Street space works for now, she is concerned about a teacher training in the fall for which more than 20 people have signed up.

"I'm hoping and praying we can get back into the studio," she said.

"It's just a matter of regrouping and getting everything back together."

'GODAWFUL SMELL'

Grandma's Candy Shop, located at 20 Oak St., has been closed since the fire.

Owner Josue Chicas Chanduvi, who also owns Grandma's Sewing & Alteration Shop just north of the gutted restaurant and in the same building, said Friday that he doesn't believe he'll be reimbursed for any of his candy.

"When you walk into my store, it smells so godawful."

Chapman contacted him this week, he said, saying that the restoration company would come in to wipe down the store and apply fresh paint.

Over the next few days, Chanduvi must empty the place out, throwing away the stock and getting the shelving units out.

He assumes the floor will have to come up, and the ceiling tiles will have to come down.

If the building still smells after restoration, Chanduvi said, he'll have to find a new location, as the odor infiltrates his product.

INVESTED THOUSANDS

Chanduvi's alterations shop is open again.

He said he has to keep the door closed, however, due to the smell wafting over from the restaurant as it gets cleaned out.

Chanduvi has put thousands of dollars into his candy store, which was originally a salon that required a complete makeover.

He commutes from Plattsburgh to the Burlington Town Center -- where he works as a manager at AT&T -- and back five or six days a week.

"We'll continue trying to do everything that we can to make up for lost revenue," Chanduvi said, adding that it's hard for his store to be closed in the summer.

"We have to figure out what to do with our losses."

'GOING TO OPEN'

The young business owner mentioned the old adage: "You have the weight of the world on your shoulders."

His father uses a Spanish phrase that translates to: "Give me a lever, and I will move the world."

"I'm a hardworking person," Chanduvi said. "I will find a way; I know I'm going to open."

That re-opening will likely feature another visit from an Elvis impersonator, he added, who made an appearance at the initial opening almost three years ago.

"I want the support of my customers. I want to know that when I open, there will be a crowd of people outside supporting me."

Email Cara Chapman:

[email protected]

Twitter: @PPR_carachapman

HOW TO HELP

Donate to the "Save our Cheech" fund: http://tinyurl.com/j5mb47f

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