Earlier this year, a North Country restaurant opened its doors. However, a short time later, it was destroyed by fire.

Its owner vowed to rebuild, but he found a way to do so while also helping the restaurant’s employees, who suddenly found themselves without jobs.

It was a childhood dream Michael Hazlewood didn't know he had until opportunity came knocking.

“It’s changed owners numerous times. When it came up for sale, I just thought, 'you know, I’ll put a little bit of life into it and make a go of it here in Cape Vincent,' ” he said.

In November 2023, Hazlewood bought what would become Channel Marker 243. He immediately began renovations and hiring staff.

It officially opened in March. It was everything everyone wanted it to be.

“Before we even opened, we poured our blood, sweat and tears in this place,” kitchen manager Jennifer Brown said.

“It was just it was like a family,” assistant manager Jesseca McCormick added.

The staff would face tragedy just three months later.

“I got a call from the fire chief at just a little before 4 in the morning, and I didn't know what to expect, but when I arrived, it was fully engulfed,” Hazlewood said.

With this being such a small community, one of the first firefighters to respond was one of Channel Marker 243’s cooks, Chad Galloway.

“I heard the first responder app go off on my phone and looked at it. It goes across streets and points of references to help you find a scene easier. I looked down the street and it was just heartbreaking,” Galloway remembered.

“So, I had left here the night before at 8:30. The following morning at 8:30, we got a phone call that the restaurant had burnt down. I instantly started crying,” McCormick remembered.

Hazlewood said a freezer had caught fire and exploded.

“I’ve never in my life experienced anything like that. We spent the entirety of the day here with Mike and Val, and we just got through the day talking about what was going to happen next,” McCormick added.

However, for Hazelwood, there was only one option: rebuilding.

“That's what he kept telling all of us over and over and over again,” McCormick added. “ 'We'll be back to bigger and better.' We haven't stopped since."

Hazlewood gathered his team, and together, they came up with an idea, knowing it would not be easy.

Hazlewood has been in the construction industry for a long time, running a mechanical contracting business. And it just so happened his Channel Marker 243 team needed jobs. So they picked up power tools, learned how to measure and cut, and have been rebuilding ever since.

“We just wanted to come back. We want to be a family again and we want to be here because this is where we all need to be,” Brown said.

“It's been a blessing that where he was able to keep us on to help us keep earning a little bit of a living at the same time, getting out, getting the restaurant reopened and everything,” Galloway said.

While it may not be at the speed of a team of contractors, things are coming along.

“It kind of works out for all of us. I need them as much as they need me. So, we're all in this together,” Hazlewood said.

“We're getting closer and learning a lot about each other, even like medical staff or personal staff. We're all just one big family. It's just incredible the way we all have come together through all of this,” Brown said.

Hazlewood said the staff, learning as it goes, is doing a remarkable job. The restaurant could reopen as early as January.

“It’s incredible what we're all doing. We're helping each other out here,” Brown said.

“You know, this place has been here for a long time, and everybody has a lot of stories about this place. The fact that they'll be able to continue to tell stories, I guess, is pretty good,” Hazlewood said.

The staff at Channel Marker 243 says the community has been a massive help in getting the rebuild going, including dropping off drinks and lunches as crews continue to work.