Just days after his ABC Country Restaurant was destroyed in a suspected arson, Ravinder Parhar is creating jobs for half of the 25 employees displaced by the blaze — and appealing to local restaurateurs to hire the rest.
Staff at the restaurant, located next to the Accent Inn near Blanshard Street and Cloverdale Avenue, are like family, Parhar said Saturday.
“We stick together and will work out [a plan] together,” said Parhar, who has owned the restaurant with his wife, Susan Parhar, since 2011.
The fire was one of five suspected arsons overnight Thursday. Two sheds, a new condo unit and a dumpster were also damaged.
Parhar said his wife was still sleepless and in disbelief on Saturday.
His efforts are now focused on helping his employees, he said.
“Some pay rent, some are going to school, some are supporting children, some are paying mortgages,” Parhar said.
“In the back of your head, you think like that. When situations come, you have to think what you can do best.”
The newly unemployed are full-timers, part-timers, long-timers. Some have dependants and use tips to feed their children.
Some are just a paycheque away from eviction, said Morgana Braveraven, a manager at the restaurant.
She is one of 12 displaced workers — hosts, servers, dishwashers and kitchen staff — being offered positions at the Parhars’ other ABC Country Restaurant, on Douglas Street. It’s a move that will add significantly to staffing costs.
“We’re already working on a mock schedule to see how many [extra] hours we can afford,” Parhar said.
“We could put two or three more shifts here, two or three more shifts there. We take a bit of a hit, but if the staff is happy, that’s the main thing.”
Braveraven is leading the charge to see the remainder hired. She posted a Craigslist ad offering to send resumés to interested businesses.
“I’m appealing to the food and beverage industry to help us out here,” Braveraven said. “I have 12 people who are well trained and awesome … All of them are hardworking and dedicated and worth a hire.”
The fire-ravaged restaurant was demolished Saturday to extinguish any remaining hotspots, said Saanich Fire Battalion Chief Gary Stark.
Meanwhile, Saanich police continue to hunt for a second suspect in connection with the five fires set between 9:45 p.m. Thursday and 8:30 a.m. Friday.
A 25-year-old suspect arrested Friday has been released without charges, said Saanich Police Sgt. Steve Eassie. “However, he still remains a person of interest.”
