Photo: Brooke McCarthy / WBZ NewsRadio
PEABODY, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — A café that provides employment training to people with disabilities or autism in Peabody is closed for repairs after a fire took out a chunk of the ceiling, wiped out the power, and caused massive water damage to the interior.
Tim Brown of Northeast Arc, which opened Breaking Grounds Café six years ago, tells WBZ's Brooke McCarthy repairs to the venue could take between four to six weeks to complete.
"The space was located directly above the coffee shop— we got the brunt of all the water damage. Our ceiling has collapsed and our floors had pools of water, our biggest concern is the equipment," Brown said.
Luckily, nobody was injured when debris began to fall into the store, and while Brown hopes insurance will foot most of the costs, there are some program-specific costs that likely won't be covered. Brown says donations are open.
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"Breaking Grounds changes the lives of people with disabilities, it allows people to get training that they need in order to get jobs. After a four to six week shutdown they'll have to start from ground zero. Our goal is to be back here as soon as we can, and we can only do it with the support of the community," Brown said.
According to its website, Northeast Arc has the goal of acclimating people with disabilities to working, engaging, and living in their community.
WBZ's Brooke McCarthy (@BrookeWBZ) reports.
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