Paul Davis Restoration & Remodeling: Paul Davis completes high-profile fire damage project for Jim’s Grille in Cedarburg

Contact:
Allan Degner
414.383.3131
adegner@pdr-usa.net

Milwaukee, Wis. – October 20, 2014 – Paul Davis Restoration & Remodeling of Southeast and Fox Valley
Wisconsin recently completed the high-profile fire damage project for a well-know diner style
restaurant in the Milwaukee area. The restoration job at Jim’s Grille, W63 and N144 Washington
Avenue in Cedarburg, Wis. allowed the longtime business owner and restaurateur to make significant
improvements to form and function at the popular dining establishment. Before the fire, the last
restaurant remodel was decades ago and hardly offered a trendy diner feel. The new finishes
modernize and refresh the space to fit the owner’s re-branding and updated menu.

After the fire, Paul Davis was immediately called upon for emergency services, along with fire,
soot, and smoke damage restoration, and odor removal. The company completed extensive and complex
repairs, restoration and remodeling throughout the structure. Additionally, the electrical system
was updated while addressing code and convenience factors. The remodeling project represents Paul
Davis’ award-winning design and construction achievements in southeast Wisconsin for more than 20
years.

In February of 2013, Rich’s Restaurant, a staple in the Cedarburg community for more than 30 years,
experienced a three-alarm fire that closed its doors for more than a year, and required it to be
gutted down to the studs. According to business owner Jim Joyce, the business reopened in early
March 2014 as Jim’s Grille, which was a much anticipated event for the restaurant, its fans, and the
owner. The favorite eatery now features an all new structure and interior, plus expanded food and
beverage selections.

“I’m really happy with the way things turned out,” said Joyce. “It’s now the cozy diner vibe again
that immediately makes you feel like you can hang out there all day,” he said.

Connecting with Paul Davis was a valuable move for the diner owner who was much relieved as the
restoration firm was efficient and also managed the project so that Joyce could prepare and plan for
the restaurant’s grand re-opening, which included a name change and re-branding. The Paul Davis
office specializes in emergency services and restoration and remodeling work during catastrophes and
especially in the food and beverage industry.

Initially, the fire started on the cooking line and quickly jumped into the exhaust hood and then
spread through the exhaust system which devastated the entire kitchen area. The subsequent damage
created a severely compromised roof structure with soot damage throughout the building. The fire and
resulting degrees of damage affected multiple nearby commercial tenants and completely shut down the
restaurant.

The fire department used technically-advanced thermal imaging to detect hot spots in the roof and
created multiple penetration sites to extinguish the fire. A unique 14-foot by 24-foot ice shanty
type of structure was erected on the rooftop to preserve the cause and origin fire scene during the
extensive investigation.
The construction solution helped to secure the compromised roof from harsh winter elements.
Additionally, the front window, and block and brick were removed while allowing a forklift to
drive-in and remove a two ton stainless steel hood which was fully intact for further fire
department investigation.

The fire was considered a large loss and the restoration and remodeling project took approximately 13
months, including a three month investigation which halted all construction.

When the restoration work began, many stainless steel surfaces in the commercial space responded
well to cleaning including several pieces of commercial restaurant equipment that were the chef’s
favorites. The kitchen was completely remodeled and custom designed to the owner-chef’s
specifications. In the spirit of restoration over replacement, the pizza oven and dough mixer were
restored from the fire through technical cleaning practices.

In the dining room, heavy soot and smoke inundated the space and required a rigorous regiment of
chemical sponging, and thermal fogging, plus air scrubbing was used to eliminate any sign of the
expansive fire damage. When the restoration work transitioned to design and rebuild, great attention
to fine craftsmanship was implemented.

A prominent design feature of the remodeled dining room included a rough sawn shiplap cedar. It
helped to achieve a warm and desired feel, while offering functional durability for many years.
Improvements were made to a rigid, horseshoe shaped snack counter that was narrow and had a warn
finish and storage that was very limited and difficult for more than one server to work behind the
counter at a time. The gathering vestibule was removed to increase the seating capacity for the
newly designed snack counter which became the epicenter of the diner. The counter was re-shaped into
a flowing oval that added an element of design and function and softened the space. Beyond the snack
counter, an organic theme of natural stone and wood elements offered an updated design feature with
varying materials, texture and color.

The new flooring installed at the restaurant resembles a cherry plank finish, however it is a luxury
vinyl floor cut into strips. The feature was selected by the owner for durability based upon the
commercial rated finish. The owner appreciated the playful contrast between the floor and slate
accent wall as an aesthetically pleasing use of color.

The 3-foot by 12-foot by 26-foot fir ceiling joists were also compromised by the fire and replaced
with new fir as a special order from Oregon. The owner requested that the wood replicate the
original joist measurements. In fact, the joists that were customized for the job were living trees
when the fire occurred. Lighting was also improved throughout the kitchen, prep stations and dining
room. Modern lighting fixtures were selected and added above the booths and can lights were
generously placed throughout the restaurant.

The entire project exemplifies many commercial code updates and health code conformity with
challenges that were overcome including the design and installation of air systems with ambient
ventilation air balancing, flame retardant wall assembly, and a sophisticated Ansul system of
special hazard fire protection products with integrated building fire safety devices.

Beyond code upgrades and the new, more convenient location for patrons, the restrooms received a
refreshed look with modern finishes. The restrooms compliment the newly remodeled dining room.

Ultimately, the entire structure was restored or rebuilt from the floor up with a commercial chef’s
dream kitchen and numerous improvements. The key objectives were to remediate the smoke odor and
fire damage, improve the kitchen traffic flow and overall layout, modernize and add style, and
enhance the functionality and appearance of the snack counter. The exterior was painted, a new sign
was placed on the building, and the roof was repaired and shingled.

Throughout the project, Paul Davis crews worked diligently to restore all of the restaurant’s
content items that were able to be saved and offered suggestions for finishes and items that could
not be restored. Paul Davis’ estimators and project managers worked with the restaurant owner, his
management team, and the insurance carrier to rebuild the space, redesign the layout, and bring the
entire space to current health and building codes with several options and solutions.

“We are honored to have completed the Jim’s Grille project for the owner and the community, plus
dedicated patrons who visit the restaurant regularly. The new space is beautiful, yet functional and
comfortable for the owner and his customers,” said Dan Druml, president and owner of the local Paul
Davis franchise office.