CLEVELAND — Despite a devastating fire that could have closed his restaurant for good, Charles Hansford didn't give up.
“I believed in this dream. I believed in this business. I believed in what I could bring to the table,” said Charles Hansford, owner of Sunset Kitchen.
In February 2022, Hansford finally brought his vision to life by opening Sunset Kitchen in Cleveland's University Circle.
“I always had a dream of opening a restaurant. I was in the nightlife business,” Hansford said.
But three days later, an electrical fire in the kitchen burned down the restaurant and Mr Hansford's life was upended.
“When I first got there, my legs collapsed like they had to hold me up,” Hansford said.
Fortunately, Hansford said no one was injured in his restaurant or the apartment above it.
But he said he couldn't believe his dreams had been so completely destroyed in an instant.
“It was just heartbreaking to have put all that work into it and have it burn down. Just three days after opening, it was just heartbreaking,” Hansford said.
Hansford said he could have stayed defeated, but decided to put his energy into rebuilding.
“I always knew I'd bounce back, I just didn't know when, but I knew I wanted to stay within the University Circle area,” Hansford said.
Hansford said he stuck to his beliefs and sought support from people like his cousin, Bindu Sancho.
““Just encourage him and always put God first. Let him know that God is on your side. Of course I did that, my family did that, but God supported him through it all,” said Bindu Sancho, manager of Sunset Kitchen.
Two years later, Hansford reopened in the same location earlier this month.
“It's so nice when people walk by and say, 'Hey, I remember when this place burned down and I remember watching you rebuild,'” Hansford said.
Hansford said he still has a long way to go, but he's grateful and optimistic about what the future holds.
“It just feels good to be in this space,” Hansford says.
Sunset Kitchen is open every day except Mondays from 11am to late night.
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