Upstairs at Fred’s: Camden restaurant owner Steve Wisbey promises the popular restaurant will be back

A once-bustling eatery in historic Whiteman’s Arcade is now a shell of a building after fire destroyed it. Owner Steve Wisbey can now finally talk about what it was like watching a lifetime of memories go up in flames after clearing his name.

Paint splatters the walls, shadows left where artwork used to sit and some rooms don’t even have floors anymore.

The once-bustling Upstairs at Fred’s is now just a skeleton of what it used to be after a devastating fire tore through the historic Whiteman’s Arcade in Camden, taking with it the popular restaurant.

After surviving unscathed for almost 150 years, more than 60 firefighters were called to battle the out-of-control blaze on September 16 when the building caught fire about 3am.

Owner of Upstairs at Fred’s, Steve Wisbey, arrived at the scene about 4am and watched as he lost his livelihood, along with a lifetime of memories.

After suffering a rough year due to COVID affecting business and battling depression, social media erupted with hatred towards Mr Wisbey, with many unfairly claiming he started the fire himself.

Upstairs at Fred’s is just a skeleton of what it used to be after it was ravaged by fire.

Steve Wisbey arrived at the scene about 4am and watched as his livelihood went up in flames.

The Macarthur Chronicle can now reveal an investigation from the Fire Investigation and Research Unit determined the fire began due to a fault in old electrical wiring within the ground and first floor.

Nothing was saved in the fire, with years of Mr Wisbey’s memories and photographs of family destroyed.

Photographs taken inside the restaurant after the blaze show how nothing was spared, with the roof completely gone and even the floor missing in some rooms.

Four months on from the horrific inferno, Mr Wisbey can finally talk about what it’s like knowing his name has been cleared.

Camden restaurant Upstairs at Fred's before it was ravaged by a fire in September.

Flames engulfed historic building Whiteman's Arcade quickly. Picture: Fire and Rescue NSW

‘A KICK IN THE GUTS’

“COVID caused a lot of depression and anxiety and the issues of being closed for three months, then building it back up … then having it taken away from you like that,” he said.

“I was just knocked over.”

Mr Wisbey said the business celebrated its best winter trading ever because of the excitement of reopening after strict COVID lockdowns at the beginning of 2020.

“It was such a big kick in the guts to lose it again because we had big plans for the summer,” the restaurant owner said.

“When you have all these big plans, and then it‘s just pulled from underneath you it’s quite debilitating.”

The outdoor dining area on the balcony where patrons used to eat overlooking Argyle Street.

From the day the fire broke out rumours began to swirl in Camden wrongly blaming Mr Wisbey for starting the fire.

Throughout the investigation police officers told Mr Wisbey they were being inundated with emails from people claiming the restaurant owner was at fault.

Mr Wisbey refused to comment before a decision was made but says he was ‘disturbed’ a number of local businesses blamed Upstairs at Fred’s.

However, he claims he had no issue being investigated by police as ‘suspect number one’.

“The police were highly professional and highly compassionate with what we were going through, but we didn’t impede on any investigations because we knew they’d get it right,” Mr Wisbey said.

Upstairs at Fred’s owner Steve Wisbey examining the damages.

Patrons enjoying food at Upstairs at Fred’s before the fire tore through the building.

UPSTAIRS AT FRED’S WILL BE BACK

Mr Wisbey is hoping to reopen the business by September and ensure the building is brought back to its prime, but it won’t be cheap, costing at least $1 million.

When asked what he envisions for the restaurant, Mr Wisbey said he wants to continue to retain the “cool quirky uniqueness” it always had.

“An emphasis on live music and entertainment is really important,” he said.

“I’m hoping it will be by August or September this year because that’s when the insurance runs out.”

Mr Wisbey has hopes his venue can turn into what it once was, but doesn’t know when it will happen.

“Upstairs at Fred’s will be back, I just don’t know when,” he said.

The Whiteman’s Arcade building now has no roof due to the fire.

NSW Fire and Rescue clean up after putting out the fire damaged Whiteman's Arcade Camden the 18th of September. Picture: Adam Yip

FOCUS ON MENTAL HEALTH

Throughout everything Mr Wisbey had an underlying message for customers and followers – to check in with friends and family because “you don’t always know what they’re going through”.

“The main thing is, especially during this time, people do need to see somebody,” he said.

“If you’re reading this and at this point in time you’re feeling anxious, call Lifeline on 13 13 14.”