Assistance fund for employees impacted by Main St. fire hits goal; owners share what’s next
Sep 5, 2025, 7:00 AM | Updated: 7:05 am
London Belle on Sept. 4, 2025. (Greg Anderson).
(Greg Anderson)
SALT LAKE CITY — Nearly a month after fires closed four of Salt Lake’s most popular bars and restaurants, The Downtown’s Alliances Employee Assistance Fund raised $494,000 for the 160 employees who lost their jobs.
On Thursday, the final checks went out, with every dollar going directly to employees.
“That has been very helpful for them,” London Belle Co-Owner Kait Paulraj said. “As a lot of them are using it to help pay for rent, food [and] gas to get jobs and to get to interviews.”
More than 1600 people contributed to the fund.
“We were surprised at the speed but not the generosity,” Downtown Alliance Executive Director Dee Brewer said.
Brewer said the first checks were distributed just eight days after the fire, on Aug. 19.
“It was really heartening to see the community that showed up, or the community they provided for each other,” Brewer said. “For many of them, they were seeing each other for the first time since they were working together the week before.”
The amount of love is just very overwhelming and very much appreciated during this crazy, challenging time,” Kait Paulraj said.
Although their employees are receiving assistance, owners said the future of London Belle is still unknown. They are waiting for the insurance company to find out if it can be rebuilt.
“It’s been a little bit trying for us, just waiting for that, because there’s not a finite timeline,” London Belle Co-Owner Frank Paulraj said.
He said their preliminary meeting with the insurance company is set for Sept. 24.
“When you do have the responsibility of, you know, 35 to 40 employees, it does make it a little bit more imperative and a little bit more pressing, but we have faith,” Frank Paulraj said.
They hope to return stronger and give back to the city that’s rallied behind them.
“We look forward to paying it forward, giving back to the community and getting back to what we do best — serving drinks and providing great food,” Paulraj said.
The path is long, but they aren’t short of support.
“Their needs are vast, but right now they’re just trying to clean up and start the reconstruction process, and we want to support them in that very difficult effort,” Brewer said.
Related: Large fire in downtown SLC destroys 4 businesses
