Fire at Chazzano Coffee
(Crystal A. Proxmire, 12/09/2011)
The Ferndale Fire Department confirms that there was a small a fire at Chazzano Coffee at 1737 E 9 Mile. Details are not yet available, but owner Frank Lanzkron-Tamarazo posted on the company’s Facebook Page “Friends, we had a fire, just a few hours ago Chazzano Coffee Roasters and we will be closed until I have further information. Everyone is okay- the building is fine. I’m just not sure about the roaster, yet. I’ll keep everyone updated.-Frank.”
He later said, in a comment on the same post “To my dear customers: If you need a Chazzano fix, go to our Find Us page on the website and go to the many fine establishments that brew our coffee. We are working on getting the roaster back to work today and we’re just cleaning up the cafe. I hope to be back in business on Sunday and tell of the happy ending to the Roaster Fire Story 2011.”
In a later interview, Lanzkron-Tamarazo said that the community has been really supportive. “The Garden Fresh Salsa Engineering Team came over and checked out the equipment for us, and Serve Pro which is out of Oak Park and Ferndale has been here helping us get cleaned up,” he said.
Recalling the events of last night, Lanzkron-Tamarazo said “I was there working late, roasting, when I smelled something burning. There was smoke coming out of the roaster and I grabbed the fire extinguisher. That didn’t work and the smoke got worse. Finally I said it’s not worth it, and I went outside and called the Fire Department. The Ferndale Fire Department was fantastic and professional. They were such a kind group, and they didn’t leave until they were absolutely sure the fire was done.”
Lanzkron-Tamarazo said the roaster is the most important piece of equipment in his business, and that it’s been getting more than average use because of his growing number of customers. “The buildup from the chaff of the coffee beans happened a lot faster than it normally would, because we are doing so much roasting. I learned a lot about fire safety and about the equipment so we can make sure it doesn’t happen again,” he said.
The equipment checks out to be safe, though the store needed deep cleaning to get rid of the smoke residue and smell. Chazzano’s is expected to re-open on Sunday at 9am. Friends who would like to help Lanzkron-Tamarazo and the crew clean up are welcome to come by tomorrow (Saturday) evening at 7:30pm for a Clean Up Party, to get the cozy cafe-style front back in order. “Everyone who wants to help is welcome,” he said.
