A beloved Sarasota restaurant that has served the community for nearly three decades has closed indefinitely after an overnight electrical fire, prompting supporters to launch a GoFundMe campaign to help the family-owned business recover.
Pacific Rim has anchored Sarasota’s Southside Village dining district near Sarasota Memorial Hospital since opening in 1998, building a loyal following for its Japanese-Thai fusion cuisine and sushi.
An electrical fire erupted in the office behind the front bar around 3 a.m. Saturday, July 18, owner Veth Senenoi said around 10:30 a.m. Sunday as he watched upholstered dining chairs stacked in front of a Dumpster outside the restaurant at 1859 Hillview St. Typically, Senenoi and the rest of his family and staff would have been preparing to open for dinner at 4:30 p.m.
“It’s pretty bad,” Senenoi said before taking me on a tour of his severely damaged restaurant.
Despite seeing his livelihood in ruins, Senenoi remained remarkably upbeat as he showed me smoke-blackened walls, water-damaged floors and soot-covered kitchen counters. The fire marshal, insurance adjusters and the daunting task of rebuilding weighed heavily on his mind. But above all, he kept returning to one thought: gratitude.
“I’ve been so blessed with all the people helping out,” he said, visibly emotional. “The community is just amazing. I love them so much.”
Sarasota entrepreneur Rich Swier Jr., who describes owners Veth and Anolay Senenoi as his best friends, launched a GoFundMe campaign for Pacific Rim on Saturday. By 1 p.m. Sunday, the fundraiser had raised about $73,000, more than halfway to its $130,000 goal.
“As one of the few landmark restaurants in Sarasota (which I have been enjoying for 20+ years) I truly hope the community can help them through this tough time,” Swier Jr. says on the GoFundMe page. “I realize that insurance will help pay for most of the damage, but as we all know the time it takes to go through the process can be months and the end result is never enough to cover the loss of business.”
After walking me through the extensive damage to the restaurant — including wading through about 3 inches of standing water at the entrance to the office where the fire started — Veth showed me how smoke had spread throughout the dining room and kitchen and, to a much lesser extent, into the neighboring Oriental Nail Salon, which is also temporarily closed.
Veth then introduced me to his wife, Anolay, and thanked me more than once for stopping by.
English is not his first language, so he also emailed me a statement to share with the Sarasota community he so deeply adores.
“It’s truly a beautiful feeling to know that no matter what comes your way, you’re surrounded by people who show up with unwavering support and so much love,” Veth Senenoi wrote. “This isn’t just about being there in the hard times; it’s about the small, daily acts of kindness, the encouraging words, and the genuine joy in your victories that remind you you’re never alone. This kind of unconditional love creates a safe space where you can be your truest self, and their constant belief in you is a powerful force, fueling your strength and motivating you to keep moving forward, knowing you have an incredible team in your corner.”
I’ve been fortunate to enjoy Pacific Rim for more than 20 years. As someone who grew up in a family that owned and operated an Italian American restaurant for more than 75 years, I know how much heart goes into a family-run business and how quickly everything can change. Here’s hoping the Senenois are able to reopen soon. I look forward to my next meal there.
How do I help Pacific Rim in Sarasota?
To make donations, visit gofundme.com/f/support-pacific-rim-after-the-fire
Wade Tatangelo is the executive editor of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and Florida dining and entertainment editor for the USA TODAY Network. Follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and X. He can be reached by email at wade.tatangelo@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Beloved Sarasota restaurant closed after overnight fire
Reporting by Wade Tatangelo, Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Wade Tatangelo, Sarasota Herald-Tribune | USA TODAY Network
