The owner of JR Old Packinghouse Café, on the 900 block of Packinghouse Road in Sarasota, is still at a loss for words after his business burned down.

  • Owner of restaurant that burned down raising money to rebuild
  • Fire destroyed restaurant and adjacent warehouse
  • Cause of fire unknown

"You’re thinking you forgot the (fryer), you forgot the oven, whatever — you left something on that caught fire,” owner J.R. Garraus said. “You're processing, and you're like, 'No, everything’s closed normally.' ”

Although the cause of the June 17 fire is unknown, officials tell Garraus the fire started at a surrounding business. Garraus says he's in unchartered territory.

"I’ve opened restaurants and I’ve closed restaurants, but this part — the one in the middle — I haven’t done," he said.

Garraus did not have insurance and also lost an adjacent warehouse that contained restaurant equipment, inventory and furniture.

"I’ve been here for 18 years, and the community response has been incredible, so I want to reopen. Financially, I don’t know. I don't know what to do," he said.

He's asking for the community’s help to one day get this restaurant back up and cooking. To donate, visit his gofundme page.

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