By KATH GANNAWAY
THE owners of French’s Laundry have thanked the Healesville business and wider community for the support shown since the blaze which destroyed the business on Monday, 9 July.
David Nguyen said he and his partner Jessica Tan were devastated by the fire but had been overwhelmed by the support they had received.
Healesville Football Netball Club and Badger Creek Hall Committee were first to provide a helping hand when they made their premises available as dispatch centres within a day or two of the fire.
As Mr Nguyen and Ms Tan search for a permanent home for the business – hopefully in Healesville, they have set up shop at the mud-brick factory in the Hunter Road industrial estate owned by RSL manager and Healesville Community Bank chairman Gary Slater.
“He has been very generous helping us out with six weeks free to settle in and a very reasonable rent to help keep us going until we can find a place,” Mr Nguyen said.
Berwick Mercedes also stepped up with the loan of vans to help with deliveries.
Mr Nguyen said while they were working at a loss they had been able to keep their staff on, with some rostering and slightly reduced hours. By outsourcing, they had been able to keep their customers happy.
“It’s been a rollercoaster, up and down, for the past few weeks but both of those things were so important to us because everyone faced such uncertainty,” Mr Nguyen said.
He said he and Ms Tan were hoping to re-establish in Healesville, but because of limited industrial sites were also looking at Lilydale with Kilsyth or Bayswater as the furthermost options.
“There is nothing set in concrete as this stage and if it is out of Healesville, we have assured our staff we will provide either a bus or help with car pooling,” he said.
The current operation is at factory 2/29 Hunter Street and Mr Nguyen said people could drop off and collect laundry and dry-cleaning from there between 8am and 5pm Monday to Friday.
For anyone who had French’s on quick-dial, there’s good news too … they still have the same number – 5962 4255.
Owner of the site Anthony Schache told the Mail they were focusing getting the site cleared.
“We have been desperately trying to get that organised and hope it will start from Tuesday (7 August).
He said no decisions had been made on the future of the site.
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