Owner of cafe destroyed by fire 'coping well'

About 10 fire engines and support vehicles from surrounding areas including Levin and Paraparaumu attended the blaze. Photo / SNPA

The owner of a popular Kapiti Coast cafe destroyed by fire last night is coping well with the shock of losing her business, as customers mourn their "hub".

The Fire Service was called to a blaze at The Red House Cafe on State Highway One at Te Horo, just after 5pm last night.

Wendy Reid has owned the cafe, housed in the town's historic old post-office building, for 12 years, her family spokesman Steven Leigh said today.

"At the moment she's lost pretty much everything as far as her catering gear and that part of the business is concerned. It's a bit early days for us with the insurance and that sort of stuff and the investigation has just started today," he said.

"[Miss Reid's] got a positive frame of mind. Obviously it's devastating to go through what she's been through but in general terms she's coping well."

Miss Reid also runs the Reds Cafe in Otaki and a gift shop. It will be up to her and the family to decide if or when business can get up and running again in Te Horo, Mr Leigh said.

The support from customers and others in Te Horo was "fantastic".

"There's been a huge outpouring of grief from the local community. It's such a hub for everyone.

"People come from Palmerston North and from Wellington just to meet there. A lot of people from the local region in Te Horo and Otaki meet there every day."

Mr Leigh said the cafe's building was 120-years-old and he thought it was the first trading post in the area.

"The historic value of it is lost to the community as well."

Mr Leigh was at the scene last night with Miss Reid, but decided to take her home as there was nothing they could do there.

Cafe staff finished work about 4.30pm and an hour later there was a phone call from the smoke alarm monitoring company.

Comments on the cafe's Facebook page said it was a popular venue.

"I like their fish main, it is scrummy, diet or not," Judith Hood said.

"So sad, this place [is] great," Nathan Lockyer said.

A fire spokesman said investigators were at the scene today looking into what caused the blaze, which was attended by about 10 fire engines and support vehicles from the Kapiti Coast and Levin.

Nobody was hurt.