Red Velvet Lounge owner Steve Cumper says popular cafe will rise again

A DEVASTATED Steve Cumper says his Red Velvet Lounge will rise from the ashes after a fire ripped through the building on Thursday night.

Red Velvet Lounge owner Steve Cumper in the fire, smoke and water damaged dining room

A    DEVASTATED Steve Cumper says his Red Velvet Lounge will rise from the ashes after a fire ripped through the building on Thursday night.

Mr Cumper, who was at an art class in Hobart when he got the call about the fire, raced back to Cygnet to find emotional staff and family members in front of the popular dining institution.

“No one was injured,’’ Mr Cumper said.

“It’s just a physical loss, not a personal one. It can be fixed and that’s what we intend to do.’’

Fire investigators were still on the scene yesterday determining the cause of the blaze.

While there appears to be no structural damage to the building, the kitchen sustained substantial fire damage and is unworkable. There is smoke, water and some fire damage to the dining room.

“The kitchen is gutted, but the Cygnet Fire Brigade were very quick and very adept — they went about their business and saved the building from being totally razed,’’ he said.

Mr Cumper said he has been buoyed by the huge show of support on the Red Velvet Facebook page and wanted to thank the hundreds of wellwishers and supporters who took to social media.

“I got a personal phone call from Will Hodgman — I’m just amazed at the support and so thankful.’’

Red Velvet has been an institution in the country town for more than 15 years. It is credited for leading a culinary resurgence, with other restaurants and cafes following Mr Cumper’s lead by setting up businesses in the town.

Mr Cumper, who bought the business in 2009, has 20 employees and has recently branched out into the wedding and function sector. The Red Velvet catered for the multi-million dollar Foxtel TV series The Kettering Incident.

“You come to realise what a place like this means to the community — it employs a substantial amount of people who make a living from it — it’ll be reborn.’’