CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – At lunch time on Thursday, what would normally be one of the busiest doors in Clarksville was blocked off by yellow tape. The entrance to Blackhorse Pub & Brewery was propped open to air out the water-soaked interior, revealing a lobby floor covered in shattered glass and debris.
But a look through the remaining windows showed less damage that what many feared: The main dining area is intact, along with the inside brewing station and the 1800s-era mirrored antique bar.
The furnishings are a different matter: “Everything in there is either wet or ruined or it’s dirty. Smoke and soot. It’s a big damn mess,” said Jeff Robinson, who owns the Blackhorse with his wife, Sherri.
The Blackhorse fire started Tuesday at about 7:30 a.m. as a grease fire in the back of a stove in the kitchen. It appears the flames then shot up the smoke exhaust system.
Most of the serious damage was to the roof, where Clarksville Fire Rescue had to cut through in order to blast the inside using three firehoses. This was the next resort after attempts to limit damage by reaching the fire from the inside had failed.
“They cut that roof wide open from one end to the other,” Robinson told Clarksville Now. “They poured in a lot of water.” So much water that the clogged storm drain behind the restaurant couldn’t contain it, and the water spilled over into the basement of attorney Kimberly Turner’s office building next door.
The Blackhorse basement took a lot more, of course. “At one point that basement was holding about 4 feet of water,” Robinson said.
But Robinson said he didn’t blame the firefighters: He’d probably have started with the big hoses.
It’s kind of like what happened to the Blackhorse during the January 1999 tornado, only in reverse, he said. The Blackhorse is made up of two buildings. When the tornado hit, it destroyed the roof on the left, leaving the inside exposed to rain for three days. This time, it was the roof of the building on the right, with the water coming from fire hoses and the sprinkler system.
There appears to be some fire damage on the second story in the back – in a storage area and the Tap Room restrooms – and in what’s left of the roof, Robinson said, though he was still waiting for the report from fire inspectors.
Helping the employees
Robinson said he has continuing operations insurance, and he has already told his insurance company that his No. 1 goal is to ensure his employees’ pay is covered.
“I understand we can fix a broken roof or a torn-up air conditioner, but the employees are actually the most important asset of the business.”
There may be a time gap for that, so Robinson was thrilled that Franklin Street neighbors Ryan Bowie of Roxy Regional Theatre and Jody Isaacs of Journey’s Eye Studio “sprang into action” with a GoFundMe for the 100-some restaurant employees. Robinson said it will be especially important for the employees who rely more on tips than on payroll.
As of about 3 p.m. today, the Blackhorse Employee Fund had over $25,000.
“Hopefully that will bridge us over until we get the insurance money rolling in,” Robinson said.
Based on the damage he’s seen, it will be months before they will be able to get the roof replaced and get back open.
As far as what can be done to help, Robinson said the fundraiser is the best way for now. “The next best thing is when we reopen to just come on down and get some chips and beer cheese, and enjoy a meal, and tip your server.”