Were you by any chance in the group they took to Sam & Lee's for breakfast at about 6 or 7 that morning? If so, we've met! I watched the fire for awhile and then went to Sam & Lee's for coffee. When the group of "refugees" started showing up I called Mrs Kim, the owner, to let her know the cook needed some help. She literally burst into tears at hearing about the fire. She and Fran Tate have been friends for 30 years; and she has had her restaurant catch fire twice in those 30 years, so she knows...

The original plan was that the new hotel would be finished either next fall or the spring of 2015, I can't remember which now. The pilings had been put in and the modules were on the barge. The plan was that the old hotel would be converted to office space when the new hotel came on line.

After the fire they determined they could put the new hotel on the fast track and have it open just about as soon as they'd be able to re-open the old one. Hence there is just no point in rebuilding the old one as a hotel.

At this time the space where Pepe's was has been cleared and is functioning as a much needed parking lot for the bank and Savat Center right next to it and for ASRC across the road in one direction and the police station across the other road.