(Image: CHS)
The aftermath of the June fire that left three people seriously injured in a First Hill apartment building is impacting the homes of residents and left a neighborhood nightlife institution closed indefinitely.
The rescued occupants from The Madison Apartments are reportedly recovering from their injuries while required significant work to repair unreinforced masonry walls damaged by the blaze will mean a long, drawn out construction process to recover from the fire, the ownership of street-level tenant Vito’s announced earlier this month:
It was a devastating event for everyone in the building, but we’ve all been working diligently since then to put the pieces back together again. Yesterday, because of circumstances beyond our control, that work was brought to a grinding halt and gut wrenchingly, there is nothing we can do about it. We were informed that we won’t be able to start work on the reconstruction for at least a year. It destroys me to write it, but Vito’s is closed for the foreseeable future.
Vito’s ownership says while the club and restaurant were clear from the flames, water damage from the response “crashed through the ceiling and wreaked havoc throughout the restaurant.”
Now, it’s unclear how long the repairs will take before the building can fully reopen for residents — and Vito’s.
“Our hearts are broken for our employees, some who have worked at Vito’s for over a decade and who we consider our family. For our neighbors and friends that live above us who are being forced out of their homes,” the Vito’s announcement reads. “For the musicians who lose yet another venue in an industry that was decimated by the pandemic. It’s an event that affected so many that it’s impossible to list them all here. Little to say, everyone affected is crushed.”
To help, Vito’s has created a giving campaign to help pay wages to its crew during what will likely be a long layoff.
If you have information about fundraisers to aid residents of the building and those injured in the fire, please let CHS know at [email protected].
In 2020, CHS reported on the ten year anniversary of the restored classic club under owners Greg Lundgren and Jeff Scott.
UPDATE: Lundgren tells us the entire building will need to be emptied during the repair construction.
“The fire damage was more than anyone expected and the city has required that the entire building be vacated during the structural rebuild, which is expected to take a year,” Lundgren said. “It’s entirely unfortunate and entirely outside of our control. We will reopen at the soonest available time, but that still remains a bit of a mystery…”
The full text of the Vito’s announcement is below:
As most of you know, the building that houses Vito’s fell victim to fire a couple of months back. While Vito’s itself was spared from the flames, the water that was used to douse the fire crashed through the ceiling and wreaked havoc throughout the restaurant. It was a devastating event for everyone in the building, but we’ve all been working diligently since then to put the pieces back together again. Yesterday, because of circumstances beyond our control, that work was brought to a grinding halt and gut wrenchingly, there is nothing we can do about it. We were informed that we won’t be able to start work on the reconstruction for at least a year. It destroys me to write it, but Vito’s is closed for the foreseeable future.
Our hearts are broken for our employees, some who have worked at Vito’s for over a decade and who we consider our family. For our neighbors and friends that live above us who are being forced out of their homes. For the musicians who lose yet another venue in an industry that was decimated by the pandemic. It’s an event that affected so many that it’s impossible to list them all here. Little to say, everyone affected is crushed.
I can’t tell you what is going to happen next with Vito’s as we honestly don’t know. There are paths that will reveal themselves in the coming months, decisions that will be made and we’ll let you all know as soon as we make them.
For now though, we’d like to thank everyone who has stepped through those doors. Employee’s, artists, suppliers, partners our unbelievable customers and Vito Santoro himself who opened the doors in 1953 and created a space unique unto itself. It has been an honor to further his legacy and we hope to continue to do so in the future.
Time will tell.Thank you again and remember……Vito’s Loves you.
Sincerely,
Jeff, Greg and the entire Vito’s crew.
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Maybe they can find another space.
Maybe. Vito’s has been on that corner since the 50s. It would be a big loss, all around.