By Dan McKay
The Albuquerque Journal
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Puccini’s Golden West Saloon lay in ruins early Thursday after its roof collapsed in a devastating fire.
But the damage goes beyond the walls of the historic Puccini Building at Seventh and Central SW.
The Downtown music scene itself won’t be the same, observers said. Smoke or flames hit three popular venues — Launchpad, El Rey and the Golden West.
“It’s going to be devastating,” said Neal Copperman, director of AMP Concerts. “When I brought bands to the Golden West, they would be stunned, like ‘We’ve walked into a another time.’”
About 20 trucks and 60 firefighters responded to the blaze, which started before 6 a.m. Thursday. A cause hasn’t been determined.
Two firefighters suffered injuries — not life-threatening — while battling the flames, said Melissa Romero, spokeswoman for the Fire Department. One had an ankle injury, the other a head injury.
Kathy Zimmer, who coowns the Puccini Building that houses both Golden West and El Rey, said she would need community support to rebuild. El Rey may escape with only smoke and water damage — and might be able to host shows by next weekend.
“I’m thankful that there wasn’t more damage,” Zimmer said, “but they had to put a lot of water on it to put the fire out.”
Blackened debris lay in the street on Seventh SW, and bricks appeared to have fallen out of a rear wall.
Joe Anderson, who owns Launchpad, which borders Golden West just to the east, said the possibility of structural problems might make it difficult to re-open soon. He and his employees were trying to find other venues for punk and rock shows scheduled at Launchpad.
“It’s hard to find homes that make sense for some of that stuff,” Anderson said. “Right now, it’s just a matter of when we can get back up and going again.”
Golden West Saloon was built in 1929, El Rey in 1941. Both are known for attracting topnotch bands and musicians.
Performers have included Ella Fitzgerald, Lyle Lovett, Bo Diddley, Weezer and the Shins.
El Rey and Golden West are on the state Register of Cultural Properties.
“We’re going to need community help, or I’m not going to be able to do it,” Zimmer said of the prospects for reopening.
She is the granddaughter of Luigi Puccini, who built the structure that later became the Golden West Saloon.
Romero said firefighters attacked flames by heading inside the saloon at first but left shortly before the roof collapsed.
Power was initially out for about 700 people but restored for most shortly thereafter, according to the Public Service Co. of New Mexico.
Some Downtown schools canceled or delayed classes.
Albuquerque Public Schools sent students home from Lew Wallace Elementary School after smoke from blocks away seeped into classrooms, APS spokesman Rigo Chavez told the Journal.
A world-class cellist, Matt Haimovitz, is scheduled to play March 9 at El Rey. Zimmer said she hopes that show will go on as scheduled.
Copyright 2008 Albuquerque Journal