Couple Receives Huge Community Support After Restaurant Damaged By Fire

When the Pellegrini Ristorante Italiano Bar was heavily damaged by an electrical fire, its owners got immediate community support to get it back up and running.

The husband and wife duo – Carlo Pellegrini and Jessica Morse – were facing financial ruin as it wasn’t just their restaurant that was down but also their catering business. This is when the Greely/Evans Moose Lodge stepped in to help. The couple had managed to find jobs for their employees, but they still had catering contracts to fulfill. They could do it but had to find a place to cook and prepare the food.

The Moose Lodge, located in Evans, offered its facility to the couple, allowing them to fulfill their orders that had not been canceled after the fire.

According to Morse, the couple received a plethora of support from the community. When the word spread that catering was still being done, many people reached out to see if the restaurant could cater for them.

Currently, the restaurant is undergoing structural repairs. Once these are done, the interior will be addressed. The goal of the finished restaurant is no more than five months.

Besides lending the couple the kitchen, the Moose Lodge will also have a fundraiser to help the restaurant with its repairs. Another fundraiser is being held May 11 by Work Out West. And, a former employee of the restaurant has started up a gofundme page.

Pellegrini and Morse are grateful for the support the community has given them, as without it, they would not have a business anymore. Morse said they could not express their gratitude enough for the help they have received during this trying time.