A Calera restaurant scheduled to open today was destroyed after a fire Wednesday night.
Owner of Big J's Grill, Jahmia Keebler, said he heard about the fire around 10 p.m. last night, after a friend who saw the news on Facebook called him.
Keebler immediately headed to the restaurant and attached Motel 6 on Highway 25, and saw the building in flames.
"We lost our life savings, and every dime we've saved since the beginning of this year!" he said. Keebler has been preparing for today's opening since he signed a lease on the restaurant space last month.
No one was hurt, but the building was a total loss. He said officials haven't told him what started the fire.
Keebler said Big J's grand opening was set for today, and he had recently purchased all-new equipment for the kitchen and supplies for the dining room. He said the motel owner, who lived in the building, also lost his home and possessions.
"We just want everyone to know that we are broken by this disaster and the assumptions of someone purposely doing this is wrong and unfair judgement," Keebler said.
A GoFundMe campaign has been started for the purpose of rebuilding Big J's. "After months of laboring and hard work we were finally ready to open the doors to what would have been Calera's Home Cooked Food Castle!" Keebler wrote. "After spending personal and business funds we have, I try again and with God's help we will survive and we will overcome this obstacle!"