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Still, siblings Aubry and Kale Walch remain hopeful and vow to reopen their vegan institution. They’ve already raised more than $16,000 as they start their journey toward reopening. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but Aubry Walch, via an emailed statement to Eater, writes that the blaze began in the ceiling above the kitchen. Sprinklers suppressed most of the flames but flooded the space. Walch says they’re heartbroken: “This shop has always been more than just a business — it’s a space we built with love for our team, our customers, and our community,” Kale Walch writes.
Through a variety of techniques, Herbivorous Butcher creates vegan food that tastes like meat. Popular items include pastrami, a Porterhouse steak, Brie cheese, and Korean-style short ribs. The operation has been around since 2014 as a farmers market vendor before opening a permanent location in 2016. The food has wowed vegans and omnivores alike. Media quickly labeled the restaurant as the world’s first vegan butcher shop, and vegans in other parts of the country have longed for a similar restaurant to open in their hometowns.
“We’re deeply thankful for the outpouring of love and support we’ve received,” Walch adds. “Every donation, every share, every kind message — it means more than we can say. We truly feel held by our community.”
Though repairs to the space could take a while, much of the kitchen equipment — the appliances used to steam and smoke the vegan meats — remains intact.
Walch has remained optimistic. In an interview with the Star Tribune, he joked and wondered if the fried chicken made earlier in the week survived the fire: “You know, smoked chicken, there’s a market for it,” he says.
Vegans from across the country have been donating to the restaurant’s GoFundMe, which has a goal of $100,000 to start. Walch says they’ll continue to share updates on that fundraiser’s page: “And if you’re able to donate, in any amount, it makes a real difference,” Walch writes. “Thank you for standing with us.”
