El Moro "Employee Lost Wages Fund" launched on GoFundMe
Donations will assist employees during restaurant's closure

A GoFundMe.com account has been established to help employees of El Moro restaurant, which closed Wednesday due to fire damage.

According to El Moro owner Kris Oyler, 42 people were employed at the restaurant, which suffered extensive water and smoke damage. He expects the restaurant to be closed for three months, if not longer, for clean-up and reconstruction.

 “We’re putting as many people to work in the clean-up and construction as we can, and we’ll absorb a few of the kitchen staff at Steamworks,” said Oyler, referring to the other downtown restaurant he owns. “We’re also providing shift meals to our El Moro team at the brewpub, but that’s not going to pay their rent or keep their homes warm as we head into winter.”

To help out, go to the “El Moro Employee Lost Wages Fund” at www.gofundme.com/2t2e6fcc.  The fund is designed specifically to assist El Moro’s hourly employees, such as servers, support crew and kitchen staff to help make ends meet during the closure. One hundred percent of funds raised will go directly to these individuals.

“Durango is a very generous community and many have already reached out to see what they might do to help,” said Oyler. “We intend to reopen the restaurant as soon as we possibly can and look forward to retaining our valued team to celebrate a Phoenix from the literal fire.”

To keep informed of El Moro’s progress, follow the tavern on Facebook and Twitter (@elmorotavern), as well as at www.elmorotavern.com.