The Great Christmas Fire of 2024 (Updated)
Thursday, December 19th will forever be a turning point for us. On what should have been one of the busiest and most festive weeks of the year, our Coral Way boutique—the beating heart of our shipping operations—was tragically struck by a fire.
The exact cause remains under investigation, but the affected area included employee lockers, a sink, a coffee machine, a refrigerator, and emergency supplies like flashlights and LED lights. The fire escalated quickly. Within minutes, the building filled with smoke, rendering the situation uncontrollable.
Thanks to the quick thinking of our team, everyone was evacuated safely. We stood outside helplessly as flames and smoke took over the building. It took the Miami Fire Department about 30 minutes to arrive and contain the blaze, but by then, the damage had been done.
What We Lost
Although the fire itself didn’t spread far, the smoke was merciless. It destroyed critical equipment—computers, phones, iPads—and affected several customer orders that were already packed for shipment. Our Coral Way boutique, which doubled as our main shipping hub and spanned 5,000 square feet, was devastated. The financial toll climbed into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. And while we’re covered by insurance, no policy can accelerate the reconstruction of a fulfillment center during peak season.
Our coolers and freezers, fortunately, were untouched by the fire. But they lost power, creating logistical nightmares just as we were ramping up for our biggest sales window of the year.
The Timing Couldn’t Be Worse
The last two weeks of December account for a large chunk of our annual revenue. We were not only dealing with a fire—we were doing it while orders poured in and while many of us were looking forward to the holidays with loved ones.
At the time, Luis (our CEO) had just left for Orlando to oversee the opening of our newest boutique, and Gabe (CMO) was on route to our Tampa location. The rest of our crew was preparing orders. It was chaos.
But Then Something Beautiful Happened
Our team did what they always do—pulled together. We immediately relocated inventory and operations to other locations. The most incredible support came from our neighbors at Cana Wine Shop, who had just closed their Coral Way location. They offered us their space. Within 36 hours, we had set up a fully functional temporary storefront.
Keeping the Meat Moving
We transitioned shipping and customer service to our other boutiques. Response times slowed, but our team worked around the clock to make sure every Christmas order shipped—even upgrading to overnight delivery when needed.
Unfortunately, we did experience about a 15% drop in monthly sales due to cancellations. Inventory was backed up, refrigerated space was limited, and we had to rent a trailer to store excess perishable goods while waiting for the city to approve the reactivation of our Coral Way coolers.
MARCH 2024 UPDATE: A New Chapter Begins
It took nearly 60 days, but like a Phoenix, we’ve risen from the ashes—stronger, sharper, and more focused.
We tightened expenses, lowered marketing spend, and went into survival mode. And on March 1st, we opened a brand new fulfillment center in Allapattah, a space that’s not only larger but is designed to host our operational offices and better support our growing footprint.
Yes, it was heartbreaking. This boutique wasn’t just another location—it was something we built with our own hands. (Literally. Some of us even painted the walls.) But the outpouring of support we’ve received—from customers, neighbors, suppliers, and the City of Miami—has been a source of strength.
To those who showed empathy and lent a hand, thank you. To those who reacted insensitively, we’ve learned to keep moving forward regardless.
What’s Next?
We are not just rebuilding—we are reimagining how we operate. Coral Way will come back, and it’ll be better than ever. In the meantime, our Allapattah hub and remaining boutiques will continue delivering the same quality and service you’ve come to expect.
This fire tested us. But it didn’t break us.
We’re still here. We’re still delivering. And we’re only getting better.
With love,
The Meat N’ Bone Team
It’s truly heartbreaking to witness the loss of something we built with our own hands (I literally painted the store). However, the outpouring of love and support from friends, customers, suppliers, neighbors, and local government has been a source of strength. While a few individuals have reacted insensitively, we remain focused on our mission and committed to rebuilding. Thank you for all the love!!
We will emerge stronger than ever.
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