Community Raises $117,500 for Central Coast Family Who Lost 2 Restaurants In Maui Fires
The owners of Cool Cat Cafe, with locations in San Luis Obispo and Pismo Beach, lost two restaurants in the Maui fires that ripped through Lahaina on Aug. 8 and have since seen an outpouring of support from the community and beyond. Cool Cat Cafe and Captain Jack’s enjoyed a prized location on Front Street in historic Lahaina Town, overlooking the beloved Lahaina banyan tree, the largest in the U.S.
Nearly $117,500 has been raised on a GoFundMe for the staff. You can stay updated here.
“We are so grateful to everybody for the donations. They will help our staff begin to rebuild what they have lost and keep up with their daily needs. The messages from customers, old crew, friends, and family; those help heal the heart, and they are priceless. Many Mahalos,” owner Sean Corpuel wrote on the GoFundMe page.
The Corpuel family employs a total of 120 people on Maui between the two restaurants, all of whom are now without jobs. At least 60 of the family’s restaurant workers also lost their homes and vehicles.
Anyone wanting to contribute may also donate directly through Splash Café—Cool Cat Cafe’s Pismo Beach neighbor. The owners of Splash Café are generously pledging to match funds, dollar for dollar.
“Cool Cat Cafe and Splash Café have been friends and neighbors for many years. We have enjoyed being neighbors during the best of times and weathered COVID together, supporting each other 100% through that crisis,” said Joanne Currie, Splash Café owner. “This is a devastating blow to everyone. We, as a beach community, need to support our neighbor in this crisis.”
Sean and his father, Steve, opened Cool Cat Cafe in Lahaina 20 years ago and opened Captain Jack’s 10 years ago. Their workers are like family.
“They’re just really good people. We look out for each other and we help each other out,” said Sean Corpuel, the owner of Cool Cat Cafe and Captain Jack’s. “I have some people who have been with me for 20 years; my general manager, my kitchen manager, two of my bartenders have been with me for 19 to 20 years! They’ve become my extended family.”
