– There was nothing I could do, so the police asked me to go home and have a glass of wine, says Hein Rikar Steen Michaelsen to Dagbladet.
He owns the rock pub Seb’s Hotel and the café Distrikt 23 in Hamar Sentrum together with his friend Roar Øverli.
On Wednesday last week, the life work was badly damaged the dramatic apartment building fire in Hamar.
Friday was three people arrested after the fire, charged with complicity in negligent causing danger to the public in the event of fire. Same day they were released, but the charge still stands. None of the three have pleaded guilty, police said in a press release.
– We have several hypotheses regarding the cause of the fire. Before we go out with it, the crime scene group and fire experts must finish their assessments, said police assistant Ragnhild Klerud Johannessen to NRK Monday.
Heavy fire – several evacuated
– Can not do anything
Steen Michaelsen tells Dagbladet that he was at home when a powerful fire broke out in the apartment building on the corner between Vangsvegen and Grønnegata in Hamar on Wednesday night.
– I was called at exactly 23 o’clock by someone who was at the cafe. I gave my keys to the police, but there was nothing more I could do. I saw smoke coming out and the whole cafe burning down, he says.
The café is now history, and the rock pub has great damage.
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Then followed days of uncertainty and despair. Eventually we were told by the investigation team that Seb’s Hotel seemed to have done quite well, he says.
After the fire, the friends were allowed by the police to enter the building to see how the condition was in the premises.
– We have tons of concert posters and band T-shirts on the walls. We have got all the technical equipment out, but whether it has survived water damage, we do not yet know.
The sound made Vidar react
Lots of history on the walls
One thing is the cost. Another thing is all the memories, he says, and explains that at Seb’s Hotel the memories and the story are “in” the walls.
– We have signatures of many famous artists and lots of history literally written right on the wall. We try to save as many memories as possible, and plan to take some of the walls with us, he says.
On the walls you could find signatures from Kvelertak, Oslo Ess, Black Debbath and the drummer in the British rock band Motörhead, Mikkey Dee.
– We are a tiny little pub in a tiny little town, but national and international artists have good memories from here.
CONCERT: Former lead vocalist in Kvelertak, Erlend Hjelvik, at a concert in Seb’s Hotel in 2018. Photo: Privat / Seb’s Hotel
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Merge
It all started in 2009. Friends Steen Michaelsen and Øverli bought and started the rock and metal pub Seb’s Hotel with concert halls.
In 2017, they also opened the café District 23, to complete the rock bump on the floor below.
When the friends set up the café, they merged the AS with Seb’s Hotel. In that process, the insurance company must have misunderstood what the bar and café owners wanted to do, and therefore the bar is only insured for one million kroner, according to the owner.
– After 13 years, we are left with almost nothing, claims Steen Michaelsen.
– We have lost everything we own
Now Steen Michaelsen and Øverli are in a demanding situation, because they have always been completely independent and managed on their own.
– We have not been part of a chain or a holding company. We have spent all the profits on expanding “step-by-step”. This has led to us being able to both expand with a large, nice backyard, and focus on good sound and light, he says.
FIRE: Seb’s Hotel and the District 23 café were hit by the fire. Photo: Tangen Photo
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Created fundraising
The days after the loss have been difficult for Steen Michaelsen.
– As with all mourning processes, this has required a couple of days of red wine and grinning, he says.
But soon after, people flocked to help, and a splice was created that has raised more than 260,000 kroner.
– Now we get insanely good help and it is very moving. There are also people who make contact from abroad, who say they do not understand what is in the splice, but who want to help and ask for other payment options, says Steen Michaelsen and adds:
– There are several who share memories, and the place has obviously meant a lot to people.
DO NOT GIVE UP: This is what it looked like inside Seb’s Hotel before the fire. Now the owners are looking for new premises. Photo: Private / Seb’s Hotel
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– Been tough
Like most other restaurants and concert venues, the pandemic has been a severe strain on bar owners, both financially and mentally.
– The pandemic has been extremely ass, simply. We’ve had it like everyone else in the industry. It’s been tough. Everyone knows how it has been, he says.
He adds that if it had not been for the courage and will, it would have been the hook on the door when the pandemic came.
– We have always been in the storm, but we always manage it, he says.
Although the two bar and cafe owners have repeatedly been in crises, they have not yet given up hope. Already on Monday, they started looking for new premises.
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