The owners of an iconic Dunlap, Tennessee, eatery heavily damaged by fire in June have announced plans to rebuild with hopes of reopening by the end of the year.
“After lots of prayer and consideration, the Lord has led our family to the decision to rebuild,” Jody and Sue Ann Lockhart posted Wednesday on the Cookie Jar Café’s Facebook page. “We will reopen.”
Numerous friends and Cookie Jar Café fans have reached out to the family seeking a way to help, according to the Lockharts. The restaurant was not insured.
“Instead of doing a GoFundMe page, we have chosen to sell digital gift cards,” the Lockharts said in the post. “This will allow us to bring some of our employees back to work now in preparation for our new building. We hope to be reopened by the end of the year if not sooner. We will continue to keep our customers updated here as well as our website. Please continue to keep us in your prayers and plan on visiting when we reopen.”
Supporters are directed to the Cookie Jar Café website to help, the owners said. On the café website, the Lockharts posted a message of appreciation, and in answer to queries from the restaurant’s fans, the owners also noted the animals from the café’s petting zoo were unharmed in the fire.