A fire that broke out on May 10 has devastated Buenos Aires Cafe, a family-run Argentine restaurant in Blackheath, South East London, forcing it to close for two months. The blaze destroyed the kitchen and damaged the front of the building, leaving the husband-and-wife owners, Kate and Reinaldo Vargas, waiting for insurance decisions and relying on community support.
Fire forces closure of long-standing restaurant
The restaurant, which opened in 2007 and is approaching its 20th anniversary, has been a fixture in Blackheath. The fire started in the kitchen, completely destroying it and causing smoke and water damage to the ground-level dining area. Since then, the boarded-up building has been covered in cards and notes from customers expressing their hope for a reopening.
Kate Vargas, 62, told MyLondon: "I'm 62 and my husband is 73, it's not like we can't easily rebuild our lives. Seeing the cards and notes outside the shop made me cry. You don't realise until something like this happens how much people loved us."
Community rallies with GoFundMe campaign
With no progress on insurance claims after 10 weeks, a customer suggested starting a GoFundMe page. The fundraiser has raised £7,000 so far, which Kate described as "amazing." She added: "We're a small business, and it's not something we can easily bounce back from, but seeing the support we've got so far is phenomenal."
The couple had to make staff redundant, including long-time employees. Kate said: "We've had people say they've got £2,000 in savings, how can we give you that. These are amazing, loyal, wonderful people. It broke me when I saw all the pinned post-it notes and messages."
Uncertain future for Buenos Aires Cafe
The Vargas family initially started as a deli in 2005 before moving to Blackheath in 2007. The restaurant is known for its steaks and traditional Argentine dishes. Kate expressed uncertainty about the future: "We are currently going through the insurance process, but over two months later, we are still waiting for answers and remain closed. At this stage, we simply don’t know what the outcome will be or whether we will receive the support we need to rebuild."
Customers have voiced their support online. One wrote: "Very sad to hear this. We have been coming here for over 13 years, celebrated countless family birthdays. Hope you get this sorted as you are by far the best steak house in London." Another said: "So sorry to hear this news. Our totally favourite restaurant for so many reasons!! Wishing you the best of luck with the repairs and really hope you are able to re-open soon. Blackheath would not be the same without you."
