Boulder Creek Brewery and employees picking up pieces after fire

On Monday, the owners of Boulder Creek Brewery were picking up the pieces from a devastating fire Sunday morning. It destroyed much of the building and now the community is doing everything it can to help the employees who worked there.

“It was spreading as fast as could be. Once it broke through the roof it wouldn’t stop. It just wouldn’t stop,” Joe’s Bar owner Karen Park said.

Park was there early Sunday morning watching Boulder Creek Brewery burn just down the street from her business. But instantly the community responded to help.

“I was hardly out of bed yesterday morning when I got a phone call from my bartender that said people are giving me money, and I’ve got a basket out there and somebody said we’re having a fundraiser,” Park said.

Park said she didn’t plan the fundraiser at first. But band members of Heathin Hill, who normally play at the brewery on Sunday nights, pitched the idea for a fundraiser to help the recently unemployed.

“We got the word out via Facebook and then there was just an amazing wildfire of people spreading the word on Facebook and then the outpouring from the community all the money that was donated is fantastic,” band member Mark Becker said.

Park said Joe’s Bar was packed Sunday night and they raised more than $5,000 for the employees.

Unfortunately that money isn’t a steady income. But thanks to Surfrider Cafe in downtown Santa Cruz, Boulder Creek employees have been offered a job and were training Monday and Tuesday. Those already working there even offered to cut back their shifts to help out.

“It’s different here, than anywhere you’re going to ever be. We all know each other, on some level we’re all connected,” Park said.

Park said that type of kindness is just part of life and they welcome the brewery when it can rebuild. Heathin Hill said it’s looking for a new place to play on Sunday nights.