Non-profit group helps beloved Detroit restaurant destroyed by fire

DETROIT - A fire destroys everything, wiping out a popular Detroit restaurant.

But the flames didn't damage the owner's dream or her drive. Now a local group is helping her put it all back together.

Take one look inside the iconic west side restaurant Big Mama's and you can see not much is left after a fire ripped through it, in December

"They are saying it was an electrical fire and it destroyed all inside," said Tyrone Pearson.

Pearson is determined to not let the high cost of rebuilding the restaurant prevent the owner from keeping her dream alive.

"We are a nonprofit," he said. "We volunteer to help out in communities. We do construction training with returning inmates as well, so we have some of them to help construct the inside."

Pearson is the president and founder of Gathers Foundation and says when he heard about the fire he knew he had to do something.

"I come here myself," he said. "I like the peach cobbler so when I heard about the fire, I said let me see what I can do  to help."

But he says he needs help to get these doors back open.

"What we're looking for is to have more contractors come through to help us out," he said. "Electrical, plumbing."

And if you don't have the manpower to help, Pearson says monetary donation will go a long ways.

"Money helps because there are some things volunteers can't do," he said.

If you would like to help, contact the Gathers Foundation at (313) 399-9122.

Pearson says if he can all the resources he needs...the restaurant could be back in business by spring.

"Big Mama's has a history that goes back to the grandmother," he said. "We're trying to bring it back."