Hipsters everywhere are mourning the loss of one of their favorite hangouts today. Early Sunday morning — while most people were still dressed up and partying — the Agora coffee and wine bar went up in flames. Costumed onlookers watched from the street as police and fire departments worked in tandem to try and stop the destruction.
The fire originated next door in the Antique Warehaus building and quickly spread to the still-open Agora coffee shop. People inside Agora were quickly evacuated as the fire spread. No one was hurt, but the blaze quickly gained traction — requiring 13 fire trucks and almost 100 firefighters to smother the flames.
The cause of the fire is still unknown, but arson investigators are being called into action today to determine how exactly the three-alarm fire started in the first place. While Agora sustained major damage, the Antique Warehaus was almost completely destroyed. The owner of the Warehaus, Gordon Greenleaf, didn’t even hear about the fire for several hours because he was getting some rest after volunteering at a Halloween event, according to the Houston Chronicle.
It’s always sad to see great places close down, but it’s even worse when the business in question closes because of circumstances beyond anyone’s control. Hopefully the fire wasn’t malicious — and if it was in fact arson, that person needs to be put behind bars. Businesses like antique shops or coffee and wine bars certainly aren’t the cheapest establishments for local small business owners to get off the ground; it’s going to be a rough couple of months for both owners.
In our tough economy, Agora was a great place for a deal — just a few bucks for an unlimited cup of coffee and a comfortable chair to get some work done or relax with some friends. Now there’s nothing but two fire-damaged buildings on Westheimer.
Agora was a great place, and the Chronicle reports that it sustained intensive but repairable damage. We at the Daily Cougar hope that the fire doesn’t kill our favorite study spot — the coffee’s good, the people are friendly and it was (and hopefully can still be) one of Houston’s best places to study after midnight.
Was it someone throwing a cigarette over the balcony?
I was standing on the balcony right before it started burning. I don't remember anyone smoking outside at the time. Besides I doubt if that would have cause the fire.