Jim’s Steaks Creates GoFundMe for Employees Affected by South Street Fire

Days after a two-alarm fire ripped through Jim’s Steaks on Fourth and South streets, the cheesesteak shop is raising money to support staff members who won’t be able to work during its recovery.
The longtime restaurant created a GoFundMe campaign to help its 33 employees get through the time it takes to get the business back up and running.
“Your donation to Jim’s South St. Employee Relief Fund will be distributed to all 33 of our staff, providing much-needed financial assistance to their families during this difficult time,” the restaurant said. “Please help those who served you with pleasure and pride, whose financial stability was turned upside down in a matter of hours.”
The fire that broke out Friday morning at the four-story building required more than 125 firefighters to bring the blaze under control. No injuries were reported.
Philadelphia Fire Department Commissioner Adam Thiel has raised concerns about the building’s structural stability, but Jim’s Steaks owner Ken Silver said over the weekend it looks like the property will survive. . City records indicate the building was constructed around 1900.
Silver, who celebrated the shop’s 46th anniversary last month, suggested restoring the building could be a long process.
“We will rebuild. Insurance will cover sticks and bricks,” the restaurant wrote on Facebook. “However, this will not cover our incredible team’s loss of revenue during the months and months when we are closed.”
Thank you for the outpouring of love in light of the fire that ravaged our store on Friday. We will rebuild. Insurance…
Posted by Jim’s South Street on Sunday, July 31, 2022
Jim’s South Street Art Deco storefront dates back to 1976, when Silver and his father opened the cheesesteak shop. The original Jim’s Steak chain was founded in 1939 on North 62nd Street in West Philadelphia. The South Street restaurant became a separate entity in 2011, while another Jim’s Steaks in Springfield, Delaware County has been in operation since 1999.
An investigation into the cause of the fire is still ongoing with the Office of the Fire Marshal.
As of Monday morning, Jim’s South St. Employee Relief Fund had raised more than $11,000.