Mechelen (Brussels Morning Newspaper): On October 13, a fire started in the technical room of restaurant Puro, owned by Johan Van Eetvelde, Jo Derkinderen, and Johan Verbrugghe. The smoke caused damage throughout the restaurant. After three weeks of cleaning, they are ready to reopen and have many reservations for the busy season.
A fire broke out early on Sunday, October 13, the day of the local elections, at restaurant Puro, owned by Johan Van Eetvelde, Jo Derkinderen, and Johan Verbrugghe. The fire started in a technical room, causing damage and smoke issues throughout the restaurant just after weeks it had been renovated. They had to inform customers that the restaurant would be closed temporarily, which was frustrating since autumn is usually a busy season for them. A professional cleaning team worked hard for three weeks to remove the smoke damage, and now the restaurant is back to normal.
What challenges did Johan Van Eetvelde face after the Puro fire?
Johan Van Eetvelde from restaurant Puro talked about the fire damage, saying it was surprising how smoke spread everywhere. The blackening and smell got into every corner, even in places they thought were safe. Cleaning up was a big challenge, but a professional team helped them clean everything thoroughly. Now, people can’t even tell there was any damage, and Johan feels great to be back to normal.
According to Johan Van Eetvelde, even though the fire was only in the technical room, it caused problems in the kitchen. They had to replace the extractor hood and check the electricity. A new ceiling was put in, and the floor needed repairs because it got damaged. Although some areas still need fixing, they are ready to open again. Johan mentioned they have many reservations for the busy end of the year and thanked customers for their supportive messages.
