‘Pure sadness.’ Skyway Cafe employees devastated by early morning fire

SPOKANE, Wash. — The iconic Skyway Cafe at Felts Field caught fire Thursday morning, leading to a “total loss” that is forcing it to shut its doors for months.

In the wake of the fire, many pieces of the cafe’s history were left in rubble and the once lively building is left filled with the lingering smell of smoke.

“We’ve lost a lot of memorabilia that was from donations from loved ones who have passed on or regulars who have built things and they display them,” said Skyway Cafe manager Meagan Wurmnest. “I think all of the things that we lost that wasn’t just part of the restaurant, it was part of why we are still here.”

Wurmnest woke up Thursday morning to the sight of the very restaurant she calls home on fire.

“Pure sadness. Just seeing it as it was and your heart breaking. And you want to do something but you can’t,” she said. “You want to be able to help but you can’t.”

The Skyway Cafe has been a staple in Spokane for around a century. Many call it home and longtime regulars are known by name.

“It was a place you could relax,” said customer Chris Heron. “It wasn’t fast food. It was the people that came in here we had something in common.”

While the food at the Skyway Cafe is what brought many to it, its the atmosphere and warmth that is what made them stay. The restaurant’s owner says she is confident they will be able to offer this again.

“We’re part of Spokane. We’ll be back,” said owner Sandra Melter. “It’s happened before and we’ll rebuild and be strong.”

Wurmnest also expressed a sense of hope and gratitude for the community the restaurant has formed.

“You think that you’re nothing and then you realize ‘No, people really do care. They care,'” she said.

Skyway Cafe hopes to open its doors again within two to three months.

Skyway Cafe has established a GoFundMe to collect donations and raise funds to rebuild the restaurant.

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