Temple Bar in Detroit is back open after collapsing during spring fire

DETROIT (FOX 2) - It's been months since the historic Temple Bar in Detroit partially collapsed. Now, just in time for the holidays, the bar will re-open. 

It was a day the owner of the Temple Bar will never forget.

"Your building is on fire. I thought it was a prank phone call," said owner George Boukas. "The entire facade had collapsed at 10:00 in the morning."

What the owner of Temple Bar would soon learn after that call from Detroit Police is that his iconic dive bar had collapsed. That was Memorial Day weekend and the doors have since been closed. That devastating moment crushing the events this bar is known for.

"That was our movement opening party that night," he said.

It also crushed the sense of safety and security that many of the patrons experience when they go to Temple Bar.

"The whole premise when I bought the bar was to make it a safe space for everyone. The city was totally different back in 88, very segregated, very homophobic, and I wanted a place where all my friends, you know, black, white, gay, straight, I don’t care," he said. 

George tells FOX 2 he was not always so sure that he would reopen, but he says if the fight ever appears to be too big, hang in there and never give up.

"Number of times I was this close to giving up?" he asked.

What made you keep the fight up?" asked FOX 2's Ingrid Kelley. 

"My customers," he responded. 

The bar is now back in business. George says the Temple Bar is safe and patrons should not be concerned.

"This place became my second home and now that it’s back open I’m super excited," said patron Leana Bradley.

"We actually had to hire a structural engineer when this all happened to make sure the building was structurally sound," Boukas said. 

Now George just wants to welcome the community back with open arms.