'Devastated': Redfield diner owners want to rebuild after restaurant catches fire

REDFIELD — On the corner of the main drag in tiny Redfield, the smell of smoke lingered in the air on a windy Tuesday morning as a husband and a wife stared into what was, just the day prior, their restaurant.

“Devastated” was the first word that came to mind when the co-owner of Dexfield Diner & Pub, Steve Roberts, stared into the building that housed his restaurant for two years. Windows of the building were busted out, shards of glass lay on the curb and workers clad in overalls and helmets with lights scraped through the building where a fire tore through the first and second floors on Monday.

“Besides my family, this was my life,” Roberts said as he stared into the soot-covered building.

Located just off the Raccoon River Valley Trail, the restaurant that specializes in pizzas and sandwiches has been popular with cyclists and locals alike.

Dexfield Diner & Pub, which was in a building that was built in 1901 at 904 First St., is closed Mondays for cleaning. Roberts was outside when the fire began in the afternoon.

“I just freaked out when I realized what was going on,” Roberts said. “I tried going in the front door, but the door was too hot and I tried going through the back, but it was too smoky.”

Roberts called 911 and the fire department was dispatched. Multiple fire departments came to battle the blaze. One of the only things that was saved was a basketball that read “No one fights alone.”

The basketball, which was signed by a friend’s son who died from cancer, was almost like a sign, Roberts said.

“The fire department brought it out from the fire,” Roberts said. “It hit hard when I saw it.”

Roberts was standing outside of the damaged restaurant with his wife and co-owner of the restaurant, Kristy Roberts, on Tuesday morning just a little under 24 hours after the fire happened. The couple was set to speak with investigators.

Devastation is a powerful feeling — but so is determination, the couple said.

“We want to know what we can do to rebuild as fast we can,” Kristy Roberts said. “We’re ready. We need that first step right now. The community has always used this place as a social hub.”

Community members in Redfield contacted the Roberts on the day of the fire to tell them how much the restaurant meant to them, Kristy Roberts said.

“It’s hard because there were so many memories that were made here,” Steve Roberts said. “We’re just small-town people, we’re not rich, we just love doing what we do. This is our life. Her and I sold everything to build this restaurant.”

The Redfield Fire Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment on what may have caused the fire.

José Mendiola is a breaking news reporter for the Register. Reach him at jmendiola@dmreg.com.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Dexfield Diner owners want to rebuild after restaurant catches fire