Seasons Rotisserie & Grill is no stranger to fire.
On Feb. 22, 2008, the downtown restaurant was gutted by a blaze that claimed two other businesses on the 700 block of Main Avenue and injured nine firefighters. That’s part of the reason why, when they heard about the devastation caused by fires in California’s wine country, the staff at Seasons felt compelled to help.
According to The Associated Press, the Sonoma and Napa fires in northern California killed 44 people and destroyed 8,900 homes and other buildings.
Seasons is known for its wine, said Karen Barger, the restaurant’s proprietor. “With the opening here in ’94, the emphasis was on Napa and Sonoma.”
“It’d be remiss for us not to thank and help the industry we’ve been able to piggyback on for so many years,” said Aaron Brandes, Seasons’ general manager.
“We’ve seen the destructive power of what this is and how it can affect lives.”
Seasons began featuring wines from the northern California wine country on Dec. 1 in its by-the-glass selections and will continue to do so through the end of January. A percentage of proceeds from these sales will be donated to the Redwood Credit Union North Bay Fire Relief Fund.
According to the relief fund’s website, donations go to people who lost homes and are experiencing economic hardship as a result of interrupted or lost employment.
Brandes said that although most of Seasons’ patrons primarily ask about the status of the wineries and their wines, the restaurant wants to contribute to the needs of the communities and businesses in northern California.
“Our thoughts went to the people, not the grapes,” he said.
The restaurant was not able to say what percentage of sales will be donated yet because it hopes to get its wine distributors involved in the donations, Barger said.
People can also donate directly to the fund at Seasons, she said.
Seasons is located at 764 Main Ave. in Durango.
ngonzales@durangoherald.com
