5th Earl Market co-owner David Bressler tells DM that the market/sandwich shop still has plans of reopening after a fire destroyed the shop earlier this year.  The open question right now is whether they will reopen in the same location or move to a new space.  It sounds like it all hinges on how quickly the current property can be rebuilt.

Couple these David statements with those made by his partner, Brian, posted July 1st on a neighborhood message board (forwarded by Winnona Park Stud) and you get a pretty decent picture of 5th Earl’s current issues and plans for the future.

We are trying to rebuild unfortunately it has been one headache after another. We are hoping they will get construction going soon. We are still waiting on plans to be finalized for the rebuild and plans still have to be submitted to the city for approval.

However, we are doing well, doing lots of research and planning for the future. David and I just returned from Spain. We literally ate our way through San Sebastian and Madrid. I am going through pictures this morning and will try and have a link up sometime soon. Thanks for thinking about us and we hope to serve you soon.

To Our Friends and Supporters,

We wanted to take a moment and express our sincere thanks for the many wonderful donations made to the 5th Earl Market Employee Fund. To put it mildly, we are all floored by the generosity that has been shown.

When we opened our business back in March of 2007, we knew that Decatur and the surrounding neighborhoods were filled with great, community-minded people and we hoped to be accepted as part of the neighborhood. During our time in business, and especially during this difficult period, the people we have come to know not as just customers but as friends have shown all of us how incredibly lucky we are to be part of a great community that truly looks out for one another.

Thank you so much for being there for us. We look forward to the time when we can be there again to serve all of you.

Sincerely,

The 5th Earl Market Team

Can’t wait for the reopening!

UPDATE: Extra awesomeness.  Daren writes in with the details…

But wait, there’s more! Immortality is within your grasp! LEON’s will create a custom drink and name it for the winner. Forever more, people will walk into this fine establishment and order up a “Your name here.” “I’ll have a Purdy.” “Give me a double Draper.” “Man, I had one too many Kells last night.” People will be cursing you behind your back for years.

Leon’s Full Service is auctioning off its first pint!  (Place your bids HERE.)

Daren Wang (of Book Festival fame) and the Brick Store boys (Mike, Dave and Tom) have set up the auction on Ebay, with all the proceeds going to the Trackside/5th Earl Employee Fund.  What a great idea!

Here are the details as stated on Ebay…

After months of waiting, Leon’s Full Service is ready to open. The Brick Store guys are putting the final touches on their new space for an official opening Sunday or Monday. Who gets to buy the first official pint at the new hub of our fair city? It could be you! Mike, Dave, and Tom are auctioning off the right to buy the first pint, and all the proceeds go to the Trackside Tavern/Fifth Earl Employee Fund.

The historic moment will be photographed and enshrined on the wall of Leon’s along with the first bill. This is history in the making. You’ll tell your grandkids. This will make the Inauguration look like a Concert on the Square. Mary Jane Mahan will immortalize you in the sequel to “Love at the Pub.” You’ll get to choose from the finest beer selection in the Southeast. And it’s all to help out the good folks down on College Avenue. So bid like crazy. Even in a bad economy, you’ve got to have a drink every once in a while. Why not this one? First Pint will be served at 5pm on Opening Day.

Man, what pressure!!  With all the beer afficiandos around me I wouldn’t know what to pick! Whomever wins this thing better spend a few hours on BeerAdvocate to determine the best course of action.

What would you go with?

In response to another post, Rusty Diamond comments on the great turnout at Parker’s yesterday for the 5th Earl fundraiser.

David has some pics over at InDecatur to prove it.

Owners David and Brian have details on the much anticipated 5th Earl employee fundraiser…

As many of you know, the 5th Earl Market suffered severe damage due to a fire last week that started next door at Trackside Tavern. Thankfully, no one was injured; however, the damage is extensive. Due to the condition of our space, the 5th Earl Market will be closed for business until we are able to rebuild.

This rebuild will take several months, and one of the most important things to us is to retain our wonderful, hardworking and dedicated staff. Most of our team has been with us since we opened two years ago, and it is our goal to re-open with these same people, as they truly are the ones who make the 5th Earl experience what it is.

We will be hosting a fundraiser THIS Friday, Jan 30th from 5-9 pm at Parker’s on Ponce. 116 E. Ponce De Leon Ave. Decatur, GA 30030. They will be graciously donating a portion of the evening’s proceeds to the 5th Earl Market Employee Fund. Join us for a drink or bite to eat in the bar. We’ll all be there.

In addition, bartenders will be accepting checks on our behalf or donations can be sent via mail to:

5th Earl Employee Fund
Decatur First Bank
Attn: Ann Berg
1120 Commerce Drive
Decatur, GA 30030

Thank you all for your nice emails and calls-the support we have received has been
uplifting. We look forward to seeing you all on Friday.

Sincerely,

David & Brian

Sharing similar pasts, Corner Pub is now giving a helping hand to Trackside employees.

David over at InDecatur notes that Corner Pub will host Trackside’s “Soup-Off” this Sunday in conjunction with Trackside employees.  Submissions should be brought in between 3-4p.  Judging will take place at 4p.

In an updated AJC article this morning, 5th Earl owner Brian Falcon tells the paper that they will do something similar for their employees in the coming days, so stay tuned for that.  Also Falcon sounds unsure as to whether he will be able to reopen in the same space.  This may have something to do with the fact that the fire department has yet to determine whether the building will be condemned or not (Trackside and 5th Earl shared a roof).

And though there have been a lot of rumors swirling around regarding the cause of the fire, the fire department has yet to make any official statement.

UPDATE V: One of the 5th Earl owners, David, checks in and promises to come back “stronger and better than before” in the comments section.

UPDATE IV: Ali Laipple has posted a gallery of photos of the damage on her Facebook page.  Click the pic below to view.

h/t: InDecatur

Photo Courtesy of Ali Laipple's Facebook Page

UPDATE III: Paula provides a cell phone pic of the Trackside damage.  Can’t see inside, but windows are shattered and there is definitely a lot of damage…

UPDATE II: According to the Fire Dept, Trackside was destroyed by the fire.  Asst. City Manager Lyn Menne reports…

“The fire department reports that 5th Earl did receive smoke and water damage and additional structural damage because of a shared roof system. Trackside was destroyed. No word on insurance yet or the cause of the fire but we’ll keep you posted and no information about whether there wasmoke damage at Bistro Box or Wiggle. The Decatur community rallied behind our local businesses during similar disasters on Church Street and later at College Avenue and hopefully they will rise to the occassion again.”

See Lyn’s full comment below.

Trackside is a Decatur institution.  I echo Lyn’s hope that we can again pull together to help revive these Decatur businesses.

UPDATE I: Eyewitness reports from residents (in the comments section) seem to indicate that both Trackside and 5th Earl took major hits from this fire.

First on DM…

I’ve gotten two reports this morning thus far about a fire in the Trackside/5th Earl building along College Ave.  Not yet sure which establishments were affected.  Bistro in a Box and Wiggle are also located in that building.

Hope all are safe.

Stay tuned.

Close Up advisor and DHS teacher Chris Billingsley writes in…

1. On Friday from 5:00 until 7:00, we will have a fund raiser at Fifth Earl, across from the old depot and next to Trackside Tavern.  Please come by and enjoy great food and drinks at reasonable prices.

2. Saturday is “Rake&Run”.  A team of Close Up students with adult chaperons will come to your Decatur home and do yard work- rake and bag leaves, clean first story gutters, apply mulch, and much much more.  This is a free service for City residents but any donations to help pay for our Washington, Inaugural trip will be greatly appreciated.  Please contact Mr. Chris Billingsley at cbillingsley@csdecatur.net to reserve a spot.

And since we’re speaking of trees, just a quick personal plea… “Oak trees!!  I implore you to PLEASE just drop your leaves!  The maples and ginkgoes complied weeks ago!  I know you’re upset about the drought, but who isn’t!?  Just let it go.   If you do, I promise two days of delicious, cold rain.”

My tendency to speak out to uncomprehensive plants on the internet is unsettling…even to me.

Click the smaller image below to view 5th Earl’s Thanksgiving Day Menu chock full of great starters, sides, “accompaniments” and desserts.

Lots of delicious complements to go with your Ashley Farms Turkey (which can be ordered from Sawickis!).

Click the pic above for a larger version of the menu

I’m a big fan of all of these Highland brews, so this is definitely something I’m considering.

Check out the 5th Earl website for more details.