"As an employer, our number one goal is to find our employees the ways to make their bills, and their ends, meet,” Nick Bartholomew, the owner of The Market House, said in an interview Sunday afternoon.
A fire that ravaged the Old Market district Saturday night not only destroyed businesses, but left employees without jobs.
Bartholomew said he got a call yesterday afternoon from his general manager saying something terrible happened.
"What he said was that his ears were ringing, and that he had been lifted off his feet," said Bartholomew.
Bartholomew said he got a call yesterday afternoon from his general manager saying something terrible happened.
"We saw flames at M's Pub, and we didn't know what was going to end up happening there. And then when we had initially seen the Market House so we couldn't see to the extent of the damage or if there was any fire at all,” said Bartholomew.
These images from a security camera shows the inside of the restaurant before and after the reported explosion. The basement, which The Market House shares with M's Pub, quickly filled with smoke.
Bartholomew was hoping the flames would be contained.
"Once we heard reports that it had gone on late into the evening and early into the morning, you know, we became a little less hopeful."
The Market House opened its doors in June of 20-15 in the historic Old Market.
"Just seeing, you know, the devastation to the building is heartbreaking,” said Bartholomew.
Covered in sheets of ice, water dripping from the ceiling, was painting a grim outlook for The Market House.
"I'm hopeful we can salvage some of our favorite things: the artwork, I know there were some Chef's knives in there. But like I said, all that's replaceable,” said Bartholomew.
Despite the loss, he is adamant to rebuild.
"We're together in this, and I know we'll rebuild because those restaurants, and that corner, is what makes Omaha great,” said Bartholomew.
