6 days ago
Webster businesses rally together to help Coach employees after fire
WEBSTER, N.Y. (WROC) — The staff of a Webster bar is continuing to do what they can to get both their location and their employees back up and running after a fire in March shut down operations.
Sunday, neighboring businesses rallied together to help make some headway.
'This is what happens when a village like Webster… when something like that happens.' The Coach Owner Fritz Sierk told News 8 Sunday.
Sierk said it was hard to see his business of 35 years, that Webster bar called The Coach, burn back in March when a fire forced him to close down. He showed News 8 around the bar days after the devestation.
'The fire is pretty rare anyways, in something like that, and we are rebuilding, which matters, you know, if it wasn't rebuilding, I'm not sure all this would happen too much,' he said.
It was also a shock to long time bartender Mike Beyo.
'Tough pill to swallow,' Beyo said. 'It was tough, but we're pulling through.'
But they aren't doing so alone. The Webster Business Improvement District turned one of The Coach's neighboring businesses, The Harmony House, into a fundraiser for the employees.
President Elena Bernardi said it is the least they can do.
'The coach is one of the kingpins,' Bernardi said. 'They do so much for us, and we just wanted to help them in return.'
The fundraiser, packed with beer, popcorn, and giveaways, stayed on theme of what The Coach offers to Webster. Sierk called it a testament to community support.
'It's pretty amazing for a little village bar. It's incredible. How many people come out spend money supporting the employees of the coach. And it's, it's it's humbling,' Sierk said.
Two previous fundraisers raised nearly $3,000 and $8,000, respectively. Sierk's current goal to be able to spread amongst his employees: $50,000. Find out how to get involved here.
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