Hula Hut servers concerned about less seating after NYE fire

Investigators told KEYE TV, a firework ember that landed on one of Hula Hut's thatch roofs, caused more than $100,000 worth of damage to the outside seating area. The restaurant plans to rebuild but managers told us it will take several months.

Most of the 90 servers at Hula Hut, located on Lake Austin, make their living from waiting tables. Problem is, the fire burned nearly half of the restaurant's seating area.

Joel Dixon Keith walked out on the pier where he used to make most of his money on Monday afternoon. It was his first time seeing the aftermath of the fire.

"It was a devastating reality," the Hula Hut server of more than five years said. "It's hard to believe. What's next? What do I do now?"

"We want to take care of our employees, we want to take care of our customers," explained Hula Hut Manager Elias Chocalas. "We're doing everything we can to get everyone to enjoy this place again."

Chocalas hopes to have the pier restored before March. But for the next couple months, some servers told us they were uneasy about their income.

"I sustain a living, working at Hula Hut and a lot of people do," Keith said. "We're in the struggle together."

On a busy night, Keith and nearly 20 servers, bartenders and bussers worked on the pier, serving up to 225 people at once.

"We obviously have to cut shifts," Chocalas said.

The inside area, untouched by the fire and still operating as usual, only seats about 200 people. Management also opened extra outside sections, adding about 80 more seats for dining.

"A lot of the staff has been supportive of each other," Chocalas told us. "If one person has all inside shifts this week, they're willing to give some up."

"We're in it together," Keith said with a smile. "We've got each other to talk to and to get through this."

Until the pier's reopening, Keith and the other 150 employees are hoping folks will still come in to see the fire's aftermath, dine and hopefully, tip.

Crews will most likely start the demolition phase by the end of the week. Managers told us the new pier will look very similar to the old one. It will even have the signature thatch roof, which caught fire on New Year's Eve.

We're also told the fireworks company, American Fireworks, that was hired to put on the holiday show, accepted responsibility for the fire.

Link to original story - http://weareaustin.com/fulltext?nxd_id=112126

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