A Chatham landmark went up in flames overnight. Fire tore through Mike’s Place Dining Lounge, leaving the owner of the family fun business to pick up the pieces. “Still haven’t processed anything here. You don’t know what to do first. It’s tough.” Said owner Mike Buckler who arrived on scene Tuesday morning to see the restaurant heavily damaged by fire. “It’s more than just an income right....It’s like our home.” Mike Jr. said. Surveillance video from a neighbouring business shows the restaurant in full blaze shortly after 2 a.m. CK Fire estimates property damage to be about a million dollars. A convenience store next door suffered heavy smoke damage and was closed today. Customers dropped by in disbelief while offering their sincere regrets to the Buckler family. “I was devastated. I feel badly for the owners and the employees,” said Jessica Wolting, a regular customer at Mike’s Place. Many shared their sense of loss and well wishes to the Buckler family through social media as well. “We appreciate Chatham for sure,” said Mike Jr. Buckler Sr. started the restaurant when he was 22 years old and has run it for 48 years. “I’ve lived up the road for 12 years. It’s an iconic place. Everybody in Chatham knows it,” Wolting said. Customers say the restaurant is like the bar in the tv show Cheers where everybody knows your name. “This restaurant has been a part of, especially the south side, for such a long time. It’s the heart of the South Side.” Diane Brodie told CTV News. Lachlan Evans was at the restaurant Monday night with a few friends. He and his mom drove by after hearing what happened. “Very important spot. A lot of the locals in the south side of town come here and every time you come here you see people you know. It’s a very local spot and friendly.“ Customers also recognized the generosity of the Bucklers who have raised about 100-thousand dollars for Special Olympics. “Brenda and Mike, the owners, they give back to the community so much. They’re very involved with Special Olympics and many other causes so they’re there for the community.” Brodie said. She and many others hope the restaurant rises from the ashes and is able to continue being a Chatham staple. “They’re good people. They’ll come back and they have the support of the community because we know how special they are.” The Office of the Ontario Fire Marshall is in Chatham investigating the scene. Mike Jr. says they will definitely rebuild from this setback. “I gotta keep it going, another 60-70 years,” he said with a laugh.
