The Copper Pot restaurant in Clarkesville is closed on Tuesdays. That’s a good thing, considering no one was around when an awning fell off the back of the building.
The mishap occurred shortly after 6 p.m. on March 25. Units responded to a 911 call reporting the back of the building had collapsed. Police and firefighters arrived to find the wood and metal awning dangling precariously above the restaurant’s back entrance.
No one was around at the time of the incident, and no injuries were reported. Clarkesville police cordoned off the back of the restaurant until repairs can be made.
‘Extraordinarily grateful’
Copper Pot owner Jeff Morris says he and his front office manager had worked inside the restaurant earlier in the day. She was the last to leave around 5 p.m. About an hour later, Morris says he got a phone call from the fire department and police telling him about the damage.
“I am extraordinarily grateful that we were closed and that no staff was there. I don’t even want to think about what might have happened.”
As to what caused the collapse, Morris suspects it was weather-related. “Only thing I can think is a wind gust came and got it.” Sustained winds of 10 to 20 mph and gusts up to 35 mph were forecast for the area earlier in the day. Incessant winds have also resulted in a Red Flag Warning across the region.
Whatever caused the collapse, repairs will soon be underway.
“We’ll do what’s necessary as quick as we can and get that (the awning) down and get it fixed,” Morris says.
In the meantime, it will be business as usual at the Copper Pot, with the exception of no back entrance or exit and no parking directly behind the building.
Business as usual
According to Morris, city officials are allowing the Copper Pot to open as scheduled on Thursday. Customers must use the side parking lot and city lot across the street and may only enter and exit the restaurant through the front door.
Eager to get the word out, Morris says, “I would like to let the community know we are open.”
