Nearly a year after the incident, Diedrich, along with business partners Andy Chun and Jan Wiginton, looks forward to reopening the bar March 16 - just three doors down from its original home. But, at the end of the day, it's just alcohol and no one was hurt.”įive years of business had vanished in a moment, but Diedrich, an eternal optimist, wouldn’t let the fire crush his fighting spirit. I think the liquor was the hardest thing for me because they don't make a lot of these bottles any more. “We had a nice collection of mugs that people would bring from their travels and we would put them up on the beam. “The equipment wasn't really a concern because that can always be replaced,” Diedrich said. The bar is reopening in a new location after being closed for more than a year following a destructive fire in February 2021. Owner Kevin Diedrich poses with his signature Thrilla in Manila cocktail at the new location of the Pacific Cocktail Haven in San Francisco on Mar. The fire also destroyed all the existing bar equipment, including funky glassware gifted to the bar by customers and Diedrich’s personal collection of rare liquor bottles amassed at conventions or on his travels abroad over the past 10 years. By 4 a.m., the fire was out but it was far too late for the Lower Nob Hill bar that endured severe structural damage. Thick, black smoke billowed from the structure as fire crews actively worked to get the blaze under control.

Diedrich then grabbed his belongings and sped to his bar, just a few blocks away from his home, and was confronted with every business owner’s worst nightmare.

You've got to get down here.' It's a call Diedrich will never forget as he described the difficult moment to SFGATE after the fire was extinguished. On the other line, a loyal PCH customer frantically cried, “Kev! Kev! Your bar is on fire. Last February, Diedrich was stirred awake around 3 a.m.

After the Fire by Will Hill