Two years ago today we watched in horror the Arcade fire spread to our Historic Holly Hotel.

I took this photo of George as the flames engulfed the roof and the upper floors of our west wall. At that moment, dreams, memories, and our livelihood were on the edge of disaster.

This day was sultry, hot, and windy, similar to today. We had just said goodbye to our little nieces and nephew, who came for a swim and a cooking lesson from George. It was a Tuesday, a typically slow day at the restaurant. The chefs had arrived at 10 am to prep our Summer Solstice wine dinner. Annabelle, our hostess, was preparing the dining room with flowers and table settings. It was all as it should be on a hot first day of summer.

At 4:00, we received a call from Annabelle stating that there was "a lot of smoke" in our parking lot and that it looked like fire in the back of the Arcade. We instructed her to call the fire department and evacuate EVERYONE from the Hotel. She asked if she should lock the doors. George said no, just get out and be safe.

We live seven minutes from the Hotel and rushed to town. Upon our arrival, the fire seemed contained to the back of the Arcade, but it was evident that the winds were fueling it. We parked our car across the street and watched our Holly Fire Department courageously attack the blaze.

The moment we saw the flames billowing out of the front of the Arcade and up to our roof, we got

out of the car and stood on Battle Alley in sheer disbelief. History was repeating itself for the THIRD time. It was a bonfire, and this fire was unstoppable. It's difficult to explain what thoughts go through someone's head as we stood there. We thought of our employees, the weddings we booked this summer, and the outdoor parties on Battle Alley. We also thought about the safety of the firefighters. I thought about George and how he poured over 43 years into a business that reflected our pursuit of the best in dining, service, and ambiance. This dream that he nurtured into a stately and renowned Michigan destination restaurant.

Greek guys don't cry. It could have been the heat, but I took this photo after I saw tears welling in his eyes. No words could ever reflect our hearts on June 21, 2022.

Then....

Something miraculous happened almost minutes after this photo. Fire trucks from over 18 surrounding communities arrived with hundreds of firemen and women. Later that evening, after conversations with our fire chief McGee, he indicated that "they were not going to lose the Holly Hotel on their watch." To this day, I still get choked up when I recount how we saw every firehose pointed at the hotel, flooding the roof and building. The united front of firefighting professionals directed all the water in the village to the hydrants. Over a million gallons of water drenched the Hotel. They stopped an unstoppable inferno.

We lost about a third of the roof and acquired a basement swimming pool, the carpets, drywall, and furniture were a soggy hot mess. BUT THE BUILDING WAS SAVED.

The Holly Hotel has risen from two previous fires, and we would not break that chain!

Two days later, we were allowed into the building. The structural engineers had deemed it sound. We walked through every room of the Hotel. I found it morbidly funny that every tea cup on the tables were filled with water. It smelled like smoke and mold. I cried. George did not. I was taken aback by his desire to start cleaning up and rebuilding in that moment. I recall asking him if he really wanted this challenge. I won't ever forget what he said to me. "I couldn't possibly leave her looking this way; I won't stop now."

And so it began.

In the following weeks and months, we kept our staff busy by having them strip the walls and floor down to studs. Every employee embraced the project. Waiters, managers, cooks, busboys.... everyone. I have a video of an unsettling afternoon in which we were mandated by the Michigan Liquor Control Board to pour every drop of liquor down the drain. EVERY LAST EVERYTHING. They sent a representative to watch and ensure we did not squirrel away bottles of 20-year-old scotch or some good vintage wines. Both George and I were there for obvious reasons. The music was loud as our team stood opening and pouring in the kitchen sinks. Chef Matt would open a $200 bottle of wine and make sure I saw it being poured down the drain smiling with a Grinch-like grin. He knew it hurt the deepest part of my soul to watch such delighful spirits not shared around a dinner table. Gallows humor kept them going, along with the reality that we would reopen in record time!

We received hundreds of emails from tradesmen, tailors, woodworkers, and carpenters, all wanting and willing to help get the Holly Hotel back. We received many donations of china, silver, glassware, and Victorian pictures and furniture. All are stored now safely in our barns. We had ghost hunters who wanted to make sure the ghosts of the Hotel stayed and offered to "connect" with them when we were ready. Emails, cards, flowers, and well-wishes flooded in. I have harkened to the quote: When things are the worst, people are at their best. All the BEST came.

We all met and George set a timeline, and since he rebuilt the Hotel in 1978, he knew he could and would do it again. He declared that we would be open by October of 2023. In time to greet the Halloween spirits and welcome the Spirit of Christmas that lived richly within our walls at the Holly Hotel.

We sought permits and received permission to start rebuilding the roof and west wall of the Holly Hotel. We had this. We were so excited to know we would install an elevator (finally) with access to every floor. George's notepads would be filled with drawings, notes, and phone numbers every night. Many vendors and customers volunteered their expertise. We graciously accepted so many grand ideas and plans.

By early February 2023, the roof and shingles were on, the west wall was rebuilt, and we were getting ready to start phase two of the rebuilding. We needed to seal the building and get gas, water, and electricity back on. I picked out carpeting and was talking with a drape maker who custom-made the drapes in 1978! We felt the momentum; we saw the finish line! Our Movie " Christmas at the Holly Hotel" was a sellout for many nights. It was a tribute and the nostalgia we all needed to know that we would be singing carols in our dining rooms again by the end of the year.

Pat Kenny, who has owned the Battle Alley Arcade for the past twenty years, wished us well and permitted us to rebuild the west wall, regardless of the crooked 1890s property line. We agreed that the few inches would be redrawn. But, within weeks of our conversation, Ms. Kenny sold the arcade property.

The same week of closing on the Arcade lot, the new owner objected to our construction and location of the west wall and eves above. He then denied our contractors access to his property. The new owner claimed we protruded by inches onto his newly acquired property and wanted the entire west wall removed and the west side eaves cut off. Until we did so, he would not allow our crews on his newly purchased lot.

The Holly Hotel was built on an assumed 1891 property line and has resided there for over 133 years. No one seemed to mind—until now.

The Holly Hotel is an anchor for our village. Not the ONLY one, but a relevant one. You cannot imagine how we both feel seeing our building sit, ignored and lifeless, and know the absolute frustration of waiting a year for the courts to sort out this travesty over mere inches.

We have a court date on September 26, 2024. It never should have been this way—not for us, Holly, or the stately and resilient Historic Holly Hotel.

Happy Summer Solstice.

Chrissy