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Rooftop Brew Takes Steps to Recover From Devastating Fire
Owner Craig Christian says he’s ‘leaning on our community for help’
By Tim Hohl August 30, 2024
Craig Christian is surprisingly upbeat, even as he looks into the blackened interior of the business he’s put his life into for the past 15 years.
“If you walk inside there for less than two minutes,” he says, “you have to take a shower and wash your clothes a couple times.”
Christian is the owner of Rooftop Brew Co., a popular microbrewery nestled on the southeastern edge of the Ballard Bridge on West Nickerson Street. On Aug. 13, a fire began in Caffe Ladro’s adjacent roasting facility that significantly damaged Rooftop’s brewhouse, event space, and tasting room. The brewery has been closed since, and Christian doesn’t know exactly when it will be able to reopen. The cause of the fire remains unclear.
Much of the building suffered heat damage. The structural integrity of the roof is in question. While the 15-barrel brewhouse and fermenters are likely salvageable, key mechanical equipment such as the boiler and walk-in cooler will need replacement.
Despite the devastation and a head-spinning insurance claim, Christian’s first concern is for his nine full-time and five part-time employees. His beertenders have nowhere to pour. Sales staff kept busy in the days after the fire but have run out of product after they sold off the kegs Rooftop was able to salvage.
“Luckily, we have some payroll coverage through our insurance, so they’re going to continue to get paid for now,” says Christian, who is one of four owners of the brewery. “I don’t know how long that’s going to last.”
His brewers, however, might be able to keep busy. Christian is hopeful for a seasonal fresh hop brew or collaboration with a fellow Seattle brewery.
“The brewing community has been incredibly supportive,” he adds. “We’re looking at a couple different breweries who are offering to provide us a brewery to brew at so we can keep product moving along.”
In the meantime, a $50,000 GoFundMe campaign is gathering momentum. So far, $7,530 has been raised from 68 donors, mostly Rooftop regulars.
Christian is hopeful the business will be up and running again by early next year. The biggest question is whether the roof will need to be replaced before the building can be occupied again.
“We’re leaning on our community for help,” he says.
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