WEST SENECA, N.Y. — A restaurant owner who lost her business in a fire is hoping to rebuild her business
After the West Seneca building that Buffalo's Best Catering called home was determined to be a total loss, Kim Hammerl learned her insurance is not enough to cover the cost to rebuild. It won't even cover the cost of kitchen equipment.
Her friend, Dana Burgio, says Hammerl needs help and a GoFundMe page was set up to help her with expenses not covered by insurance.
"She was devastated," Burgio said. "She found out she was under-insured, and just the financial hardship, especially after COVID and struggling in the restaurant business."
“Kim told 2 On Your Side that just a few days after her friends had posted the fundraiser, they had decided to close the page after people started negatively commenting about the effort to help a friend. Kim said they would be contacting GoFundMe to see what they should do with the funds that have already been donated; refund the money or donate it. Kim said that fire investigators did not believe the fire started in the kitchen.
Kim said her friends did not expect the negative comments and were simply trying to help.
“This was never a selfish act, this was something my friends put up to help without my knowledge initially but they talked me into it and I was grateful,” said Hammerl. She wished nothing but the best for the tenants also impacted by the fire but was disheartened by the hate shared on social media.
Hammerl is still looking for a new location for her business, so that her employees can keep working and said she would be grateful for any help with that search.”
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