A fire early Monday destroyed the inside of Forestville’s Bazaar Sonoma, the popular Chinese restaurant also known as BaSo that has earned much acclaim since it opened less than a year ago on Front Street.
The fire began around 5:45 a.m., and drew a heavy response from local crews representing six different departments, said Sonoma County Fire District Captain Keith Muelheim.
When firefighters arrived, Muelheim said, “smoke was coming from the windows of the first floor of the restaurant.”
Tenants in at least three apartments above the restaurant were evacuating and no injuries were reported.
The fire was stopped before flames got to the apartments; still, due to smoke damage, the tenants were being relocated with the assistance of the Red Cross.
“We’re glad everyone was safe and that it happened at a time when staff wasn’t here,” said co-owner Jenny Phan. She and her husband, chef Sean Quan, who previously worked at Healdsburg’s Michelin-starred Single Thread, opened the restaurant late last year after running popups in the area.
The cause of the fire is still unknown, though Muelheim said they were able to “narrow down the area of origin.”
Quan said the fire started in the bar area, not the kitchen.
“When I got the call, I was worried, ‘Did I leave the gas on?’ ‘What did I do?’” he said. “Surprisingly, it did not start in the kitchen.”
Once firefighters left around 11 a.m., Phan and Quan began to assess the damage with family, friends and coworkers. The stench of smoke lingered heavy in the air.
The restaurant’s white walls and ceiling were left blackened, and insulation spilled out where fire crews had gutted the building’s facade to attack the fire. A dining room mural of crashing ocean waves that had served as the backdrop for a Lunar New Year party was reduced to a faded, peeling corner. Pairs of ceramic bowls remained where they had been stacked on tables.
The restaurant was known for an ambitious menu of regional Chinese cuisine based heavily on Sichuan recipes. Inspired by childhood and travel memories, BaSo reflected the couple’s desire to treat Sonoma County to more innovative regional Chinese cuisine and to showcase the food Quan always made for family meal, a communal occasion shared by restaurant staff before service.
It was hailed by Sonoma Magazine as the best new opening among local restaurants last year. The San Francisco Chronicle gave it a glowing review just last week.
“As chefs, we take what we do very seriously,” Quan said, ashy white soot covering his boots. “It’s the most important thing in the world, but its also not important. It’s just food. This … puts it all into perspective.”
In addition to Sonoma County Fire District crews, firefighters from Forestville, Guerneville, Windsor, Larkfield, Graton and Cal Fire responded to the blaze.
The extent of damage wasn’t yet known Monday. The business is insured, but Quan said it’s his first experience suffering such a loss
“I felt all five stages of grief at once,” he said.
Robert Baba, owner of Ideal Hardware, just across the street, said Phan and Quan are “two of the nicest people. They finally had things going and had a good base. The variety that they offered is what helped to make Forestville interesting.”
The couple were grateful for the outpouring of support they received as word got out around town and beyond.
“Not just from Forestville, but from industry friends,” Phan said.
They put stock in a rebirth and a return, someday, of patrons.
“This feels like the end of season one,” Quan said. “Hopefully the audience will be back and ready for season two.”
Amie Windsor is the Community Journalism Team Lead with The Press Democrat. She can be reached at amie.windsor@pressdemocrat.com or 707-521-5218.