On July 22, a fire destroyed Mediterranean Deli and Catering on Franklin Street. All employees got out of the building safely, but the deli sustained major damage. The restaurant’s owner, Jamil Kadoura, recently spoke with 97.9 The Hill about the fire, the resulting community support, and the future of the establishment.
Kadoura recounted his actions at the start of the fire that would destroy his beloved business. Earlier that day a roofer was fixing a leak on the Mediterranean Deli’s rubber roof. It’s a common practice to use a torch to repair roof leaks. After the roofer left, Kadoura smelt smoke and went to investigate.
“I saw a flame as big as two lighters combined. You know, just a very small flame So thank God, this is so easy. I can put this off,” he said. “I tapped on it with my pair of hands. And then about four or five inches diameter fell down [into the building] and the fire came up.
“My first call was to the restaurant, evacuate immediately, and the second call was to nine one one,” Kadoura added.
All employees were evacuated immediately. The Chapel Hill Fire Department arrived at the scene to fight the fire. While Med Deli was badly burned, the neighboring establishments were saved. But as the firefighters contained the blaze, Kadoura and his staff gathered on Franklin Street while they watched the building burn.
“During the fire, I looked at their faces, they looked deflated. I had to go. I was more deflated than them. But I had to go around and take them to the side and say, listen, we are going to be fine,” Kadoura explained.
After the fire, when it was known that Med Deli had burned down and could not be salvaged, a GoFundMe was created by the town in support of the establishment and its employees. Immediately, donations came pouring in.
Kadoura said, “I’m so glad I’m raising my kids here. This community has been, I can’t describe it honestly. There is, for the employees, $140,000 in two days.”
Signs community members have taped to the windows of the Mediterranean Deli after the fire.
The amount continued to skyrocket and is now at more than $213,000. Kadoura says the money will go into a Chamber of Commerce special account for the employees. The restaurant has 71 employees, some who have been there for 16 years. The average employee has been with the establishment for around 13 years.
“You spend 16 years with somebody on a daily basis, they become your family and they’re truly our family,” he said. “And the community stepped up.”
Kadoura continues to work and the business is now open for catering in the Elaine’s on Franklin space at 454 West Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, NC 27516. In a couple of months, he said Med Deli will reopen for dine-in as well.
“We are going to hopefully open around October for dine-in at Elaine’s restaurant with a limited menu,” Kadoura explained.
The process of rebuilding the original Mediterranean Deli has also already begun. Kadoura said they already have a blueprint of the building to show to the town. He said the architect estimates the original space will be ready to re-open in 6-10 months.
“We’re going to rebuild,” Kadoura said. “We’re going to rebuild better. I can tell you one thing. I’m gonna have my dream kitchen in the new place.”
The Med Deli owner said he wants to emphasize the importance of his employees and the support the community has given him over the course of the last few weeks.
“There is nothing going to make me feel better than seeing people coming in so we can pay our employees,” he said. “If we pay our employees I’m thankful to God and to the community, and the key is the employee.
“This is not a business to me,” Kadoura added. “This is my home.”
Jamil Kadoura (right) and Aaron Keck at 97.9 The Hill’s radio station.
On Thursday, the Chapel Hill Fire Department officially closed its investigation into the fire at Med Deli. The department confirmed Kadoura’s account, that it began on the roof and was accidentally caused in relation to the work being done by contractors. In its report, fire officials estimated the damage of Mediterranean Deli to be estimated around $3 million. The neighboring businesses Moshi Moshi and DB Sutton & Company similarly suffered damage from the firefighters response, with Moshi Moshi’s damage to be estimated at $65,000 and DB Sutton’s to be estimated at $11,500.
Featured photo via Caroline Spencer.
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