A fire that tore through Wimberley Cafe's kitchen in the early morning hours of Tuesday, Nov. 10, has left the decades-old Hill Country gathering spot closed indefinitely, left more than 80 employees temporarily without work, and shut down three neighboring businesses that share walls with the restaurant. Owner Jay Bachman said the blaze destroyed the prep kitchen entirely and estimated the damage at more than $1 million.
The fire broke out at the cafe's building at 101-A Wimberley Square, with the Hays County Fire Marshal's Office logging a call about the blaze at 2:19 a.m. Tuesday, according to a report. Firefighters from four stations worked for hours to tame the flames, and nobody was injured, as reported by statesman.com. The prep kitchen that burned served both Wimberley Cafe and the adjacent Marco's Italian, per the same Yahoo account.
Bachman said crews saved roughly half the building, including the cafe's main structure. The prep kitchen was a total loss, and the owners expect to have a better sense of the rebuilding timeline after insurance companies assess the damage, according to MySA.
What statewide fire records can—and can't—show
The Texas Department of Insurance's State Fire Marshal's Office recorded 72,124 fires and $662,625,954 in property loss among participating fire departments in its 2014 report. Those statewide figures are not specific to restaurants or commercial kitchens and do not establish the cause or losses in the Wimberley fire, according to the Texas Department of Insurance.
Workers and Neighboring Businesses Affected
More than 80 cafe employees are temporarily without work, according to the outlet's report. Puppy Love, Jeanne's Fashions and Sip! on The Square also closed after suffering heavy smoke and water damage. The report said Marco's Italian was scheduled to reopen at limited capacity on Thursday.
In a Facebook post on Nov. 13, owners Jay and Jen Bachman said they were working with the neighboring businesses to determine next steps, according to CBS Austin. They also thanked the staff, affected businesses and firefighters for their support and response.
Rebuild Plans Hinge on Insurance Review
Jay and Jen Bachman bought Wimberley Cafe in 2018 and intend to rebuild the kitchen and reopen the restaurant, which has operated in the community since 2005. But the timeline remains uncertain — the owners said they will have a better understanding of the rebuilding schedule once insurance companies assess the damage, per CBS Austin's report.
Until that process plays out, Bachman is leaning on a relief effort he helped start with two colleagues: the Wimberley Service Industry Relief Fund, created to help hospitality workers facing hardship. The fund is actively collecting donations to help bridge the gap through the holidays, with a third party handling payments and distributions, Yahoo's report states. The owners also thanked Wimberley residents for their support as the community absorbs the loss of one of its longtime dining staples.
