Fire Rakes Medical Lake Breakfast Nook Jake’s Uninsured, Search For Cause Under Way

Medical Lake residents will have to find a new spot for a hearty breakfast.

Jake’s Restaurant, a cafe and bar in the town’s business district, was severely damaged by a blaze that was battled by five fire departments early Saturday.

The second floor, where the fire apparently started in a storage area, was destroyed. The main floor, including the dining room, kitchen and bar, was badly damaged by smoke and water.

An attached real estate office also was damaged, though not severely.

It was not clear Saturday when, or if, the restaurant will reopen. It was not insured, said Spokane fire investigator Ernie Nye.

The restaurant was formerly called Jake’s Steak Pit. Records show Jake’s Steak Pit Inc. filed for bankruptcy in January.

Owner Mary Alderman could not be reached for comment. Waitress Melinda Davis said Alderman asked friends to help her dig out debris at the business this morning.

Jake’s attracts a breakfast crowd that includes a group of retirees who arrive for coffee at 9 a.m. daily, Davis said.

The restaurant at 113 Lake Street is closed nights, when the bar is open.

“It’s always been a good little breakfast cafe and a place to get a good stiff drink,” said Davis.

Cliff Denman, chief of Medical Lake’s volunteer fire department, said a bartender working after hours reported smelling smoke at 3:23 a.m.

“I only live a couple of blocks away, and we had flames shooting about 20 feet out of windows” when he arrived, Denman said.

Crews from Cheney, Airway Heights and nearby Fire Districts 3 and 10 worked alongside those from Medical Lake. They struggled to keep the fire from spreading into the real estate office and a Cenex service station next door.

“I’m real proud of them. They kept it contained to one building,” said Medical Lake Mayor Sharie Stearns.

Nye said he hadn’t determined the cause of the fire Saturday evening.

“We still got some follow-up on the status of the heating system and electrical system,” he said.

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