GoFundMe Launched for Thurman Cafe Staff After Fire Damage

A fire during the lunch rush left Thurman Cafe’s staff suddenly out of work and scrambling for income, turning one of German Village’s best-known burger spots into a recovery story centered on the people who run it. The April 12 blaze hit around 2:15 p.m. while the restaurant was full of customers, and between six and eight employees were on site when everyone was evacuated without injuries.

Fire officials said about 35 firefighters responded as flames started in the back of the building and spread into the roofline and basement area, causing structural damage. The cause was described as an electrical fire, and the investigation was still ongoing. For the workers who depend on the cafe’s steady lunch and dinner traffic, the immediate damage was not just to the building but to the schedule, the tips and the weekly rhythm that keeps restaurant payrolls and household budgets on track.

That strain is why a GoFundMe started by Ashley Randolph, a former employee and current regular, quickly became part of the story. The fundraiser said the money would go directly to current staff members to help cover groceries, rent, utilities, bills and other essentials. By the time of the latest update, it had raised $2,290 toward a $100,000 goal from 11 donors.

Owner Mike Suclescy said he was unsure when the restaurant would reopen, leaving employees in limbo as managers and owners worked through rebuilding, insurance and cleanup. A nearby business owner had already offered temporary shifts to help staff keep earning while Thurman Cafe remained closed, a reminder that when a restaurant shuts down, the shock lands first on cooks, bartenders, servers and hosts who often live on hourly wages and tips.

Thurman Cafe has been part of Columbus since 1942, when Nick Suclescy opened the business, and it has long been a German Village landmark known for oversized burgers, including the Thurmanator, piled high with two 12-ounce patties, bacon, cheddar, onions and mushrooms. That kind of local identity is part of what makes the closure hit harder: the building may be damaged, but the larger break is in the daily work of the staff who kept the dining room moving and the kitchen firing before the fire stopped service in an instant.