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Minnesota turkey tradition went on despite fire

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Nov 25, 2011 at 9:49 am

WEST ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - A Thanksgiving tradition for the needy continued this year at a West St. Paul restaurant, even as its owners cope with the aftermath of a fire that burned down their other restaurant in Eagan.

Co-owner Jim Casper says hundreds of staff and volunteers spent Thursday serving more than 3,300 free Thanksgiving meals at the Cherokee Tavern and through delivery.

The Casper family said they considered skipping the 23-year-old tradition after a fire Oct. 9 destroyed the Cherokee Sirloin Room in Eagan. It caused $750,000 in damages. Among the volunteers were employees from the Eagan restaurant, some of whom are jobless because of the fire.

Casper tells the St. Paul Pioneer Press that an outpouring of help and $10,000 in donations from the community made the meals possible.