Woodshed Restaurant fire 11-28-13

[Billy Bob]

What a building it was . It was loaded with charm that came from being an original barn structure that cant be duplicated.
To rebuild requires the building be brought up to current code , that's all the ADA act issues and general construction codes . That can't and should not be waved. And with those codes comes a loss of the original ambiance.
The other serious issue is the current owners picked this up at a foreclosure auction for a price that seemed to be well below market price. That's also what helped make it work financially. Rebuilding will be at full replacement costs that will make margins tight . I would call it a game on this one and move on to the next deal .

[LIforrelaxin]

Originally Posted by Billy Bob

What a building it was . It was loaded with charm that came from being an original barn structure that cant be duplicated.
To rebuild requires the building be brought up to current code , that's all the ADA act issues and general construction codes . That can't and should not be waved. And with those codes comes a loss of the original ambiance.
The other serious issue is the current owners picked this up at a foreclosure auction for a price that seemed to be well below market price. That's also what helped make it work financially. Rebuilding will be at full replacement costs that will make margins tight . I would call it a game on this one and move on to the next deal .

While agree with your comments about the originality of the building not being replaceable. I disagree with the idea that rebuilding is financially out of the question. While you are correct that rebuilding will be expensive and at full cost, that is what insurance is for. As a business I would hope they would have been insured fully in case of fire, which means rebuilding will not be as costly as one might think, for the restaurants owners.

I am just glad that the fire happened when it did, and all that was lost was a building.

[VitaBene]

Originally Posted by Billy Bob

What a building it was . It was loaded with charm that came from being an original barn structure that cant be duplicated.
To rebuild requires the building be brought up to current code , that's all the ADA act issues and general construction codes . That can't and should not be waved. And with those codes comes a loss of the original ambiance.
The other serious issue is the current owners picked this up at a foreclosure auction for a price that seemed to be well below market price. That's also what helped make it work financially. Rebuilding will be at full replacement costs that will make margins tight . I would call it a game on this one and move on to the next deal .

BB, I think you will be proven right on this one. I think the price was just north of 500K (519 IIRC). It is too bad because we went there weekly or so and it was good and so convenient.

Personally, I would not care if they threw up a Morton building and served good food, good wine and have good wine glasses!

[tis]

Unfortunately, Vita I agree. I will also be surprised if BB is proven wrong.

[phoenix]

I remember when Mike Love's restaurant also burned down in Moultonborough. After a while he opened a new rest in Wolfeboro but eventually changed concepts and opened Lemon Grass. I also think it will be tough to open again on same site and assume the same result. It was also my favorite in lakes region and with Wayside Inn my two favorite period restaurants

[dippasan]

Originally Posted by phoenix

I remember when Mike Love's restaurant also burned down in Moultonborough. After a while he opened a new rest in Wolfeboro but eventually changed concepts and opened Lemon Grass. I also think it will be tough to open again on same site and assume the same result. It was also my favorite in lakes region and with Wayside Inn my two favorite period restaurants

I remember Mike Love's restaurant in Moultonboro. It was the Sweetwater Inn.
I proposed to my wife there in 1989. My in laws lived in Center Harbor and my mother in law and brother in law both worked at the Sweetwater during the time I proposed. It was a great place with great food and a great atmosphere.
Too bad it had the same fate as the Woodshed.

[Newbiesaukee]

Where exactly was the Sweetwater Inn?

[hazelnut]

Originally Posted by Newbiesaukee

Where exactly was the Sweetwater Inn?

Ahhhhh the Sweetwater Inn. So many fond memories, my parents took us there all the time. It was just past the Village Kitchen if you're headed towards Moultonboro Town Center. On the right side, up a little incline, I believe there is a mechanical company or something there now. What an awesome restaurant that was. We used to spend New Years eve there many many years.

Note: Sweetwater was not an Inn, as in you didn't sleep there. At least not that I remember.

[VitaBene]

Originally Posted by hazelnut

Ahhhhh the Sweetwater Inn. So many fond memories, my parents took us there all the time. It was just past the Village Kitchen if you're headed towards Moultonboro Town Center. On the right side, up a little incline, I believe there is a mechanical company or something there now. What an awesome restaurant that was. We used to spend New Years eve there many many years.

Note: Sweetwater was not an Inn, as in you didn't sleep there. At least not that I remember.

Hmmm... must be where Ossipee MT Electronics is now.

[Nagigator]

Originally Posted by VitaBene

Hmmm... must be where Ossipee MT Electronics is now.

They still use the same old sign for the Sweetwater, out by the road, but of course it for the present business......

[dippasan]

FYI...I just did a Google search for the Sweetwater Inn NH and found an obituary for Mike Love. I was unaware that he passed away in 2008 in Panama where he and his wife retired, due to complications from a stroke. RIP Mike!!

I thought some of you might want to know.

[tis]

It was discussed on here, dippasan, you must have missed it.

[secondcurve]

Originally Posted by dippasan

FYI...I just did a Google search for the Sweetwater Inn NH and found an obituary for Mike Love. I was unaware that he passed away in 2008 in Panama where he and his wife retired, due to complications from a stroke. RIP Mike!!

I thought some of you might want to know.

I do remember Mike's passing. That was definitely a sad story and a great loss for the Lakes Region. I never went to the Sweetwater Inn but had the pleasure of visiting his Loves Quay restaurant in Wolfeboro many, many times. He was a talented chef and an exceptionally nice guy.

[Just Sold]

From the Union Leader:

Home » News » Business

January 05. 2014 8:06PM
Part-owner says Woodshed Restaurant in Moultonborough unlikely to be rebuilt

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By DAN SEUFERT
Union Leader Correspondent
MOULTONBOROUGH — As fire investigators continue to search for the cause of the fire that destroyed the landmark Woodshed Restaurant on Thanksgiving, one of the owners says the restaurant likely will not be rebuilt.

“We would love to try and rebuild something, but re-creating the Woodshed would be nearly impossible,” said part-owner Scott Ouellette. “We may have a memorial to it somewhere.”

The 2,000-square-foot restaurant was once a 19th-century former farmhouse. It was converted to a restaurant about 40 years ago. Ouellette bought the restaurant a little more than a year ago with three partners.

The restaurant featured 40 years of collected memorabilia and photos of famous people, like actor Henry Fonda, who ate there. The restaurant building was valued at $401,500, according to town officials.

According to employees, the last person in the restaurant had left just before 9 p.m. The fire was reported just before 10 p.m., and by 11 p.m. the building was engulfed in flames.

Local and state fire investigators have completed most of the inspection at the site, but are still interviewing the 40 former Woodshed employees about what they saw.

No cause has been ruled out, according to fire investigator Bill Clark of the state Fire Marshal’s Office, not even arson.

“Nothing has been found as the cause, and nothing has been ruled out,” Clark said. “We are still interviewing people, and any one of those interviews could lead us to the cause.”

Because the cause of the fire is still unknown, the owners of the restaurant and their insurance companies haven’t made a final decision about rebuilding.

“We really can’t do anything now. Everything is pretty much on hold,” Ouellette said.

But Ouellette said rebuilding is unlikely.

“It’s an out-of-the-way site, and whatever you build there will be something else, not The Woodshed,” he said.

“I don’t think you can ever recreate The Woodshed,” Ouellette said.

[email protected]

[BroadHopper]

I had the opportunity and befriend with Mike Love at Belknap College. It was the college that brought him to this area. Same with Joe Droukas, who once owned The Mug and a talented local musician.

I followed Mike Love from one establishment to another until he retired.

Joe met a local Winnisguam beauty and moved to Clearwater FL for the winters. He summered on Mink Island. Joe past away two years ago.

I can see them now with the higher power, discussing food and the Belknap College days. They are at peace.

[Greene's Basin Girl]

Originally Posted by BroadHopper

I had the opportunity and befriend with Mike Love at Belknap College. It was the college that brought him to this area. Same with Joe Droukas, who once owned The Mug and a talented local musician.

I followed Mike Love from one establishment to another until he retired.

Joe met a local Winnisguam beauty and moved to Clearwater FL for the winters. He summered on Mink Island. Joe past away two years ago.

I can see them now with the higher power, discussing food and the Belknap College days. They are at peace.

When did Joe summer on Mink Island? He resided for many many years on Gilman Point Road in Green's Basin?

[phoenix]

he lived down from me on Gilman point until he died and property still in the name of his trust

[surfnsnow]

before that, I believe joe lived in buzzels cove

[BroadHopper]

In the past few years I see him with his girlfriend on Mink Island. I was under the impression that is where he was staying.

[secondcurve]

Originally Posted by Just Sold

From the Union Leader:

Home » News » Business

January 05. 2014 8:06PM
Part-owner says Woodshed Restaurant in Moultonborough unlikely to be rebuilt

ShareThis

By DAN SEUFERT
Union Leader Correspondent
MOULTONBOROUGH — As fire investigators continue to search for the cause of the fire that destroyed the landmark Woodshed Restaurant on Thanksgiving, one of the owners says the restaurant likely will not be rebuilt.

“We would love to try and rebuild something, but re-creating the Woodshed would be nearly impossible,” said part-owner Scott Ouellette. “We may have a memorial to it somewhere.”

The 2,000-square-foot restaurant was once a 19th-century former farmhouse. It was converted to a restaurant about 40 years ago. Ouellette bought the restaurant a little more than a year ago with three partners.

The restaurant featured 40 years of collected memorabilia and photos of famous people, like actor Henry Fonda, who ate there. The restaurant building was valued at $401,500, according to town officials.

According to employees, the last person in the restaurant had left just before 9 p.m. The fire was reported just before 10 p.m., and by 11 p.m. the building was engulfed in flames.

Local and state fire investigators have completed most of the inspection at the site, but are still interviewing the 40 former Woodshed employees about what they saw.

No cause has been ruled out, according to fire investigator Bill Clark of the state Fire Marshal’s Office, not even arson.

“Nothing has been found as the cause, and nothing has been ruled out,” Clark said. “We are still interviewing people, and any one of those interviews could lead us to the cause.”

Because the cause of the fire is still unknown, the owners of the restaurant and their insurance companies haven’t made a final decision about rebuilding.

“We really can’t do anything now. Everything is pretty much on hold,” Ouellette said.

But Ouellette said rebuilding is unlikely.

“It’s an out-of-the-way site, and whatever you build there will be something else, not The Woodshed,” he said.

“I don’t think you can ever recreate The Woodshed,” Ouellette said.

[email protected]

Maybe it is me but shouldn't the owner at this point be saying we are going to build at any cost if nothing else based upon emotion? Plus, the Woodshed has had such a following for so many years if the restaurant were recreated I am almost certain that following would return if for no other reason out of curiosity. I hope this story has a good ending.

[wifi]

Remember there are four separate owners here, its not like it can resurrect itself as the "Canoe Shed"

[phoenix]

its a business proposition. The owners would build if they thought the return was acceptable

[Billy Bob]

"Maybe it is me but shouldn't the owner at this point be saying we are going to build at any cost if nothing else based upon emotion? Plus, the Woodshed has had such a following for so many years if the restaurant were recreated I am almost certain that following would return if for no other reason out of curiosity. I hope this story has a good ending "
Actually the recent history of the place disputes your statement. The current owners did pick this up at a foreclosure sale for a rather attractive price. Had it previously been doing well would it have been in foreclosure ? the previous management had also been on the no additional liquor list with the state , not a great indication of financial success. The loyal clientele is ageing and not being replaced by younger regulars , just wasn't a hip place.
I think Oulette has it right , its a out of the way location and the draw was the building . Emotional business people don't make it , financially realistic business people make it. But I'm sure the current owners would look at your offer if you want to give the place a try and buy the lot .

[Happy Gourmand]

Originally Posted by Billy Bob

I think Oulette has it right , its a out of the way location and the draw was the building . Emotional business people don't make it , financially realistic business people make it. But I'm sure the current owners would look at your offer if you want to give the place a try and buy the lot .

Is it just me? This seems so wrong on so many levels.

[brk-lnt]

Originally Posted by secondcurve

Maybe it is me but shouldn't the owner at this point be saying we are going to build at any cost if nothing else based upon emotion?

Why in the world should he be saying that? They're a business, not a charity.