In the wake of Hurricane Melissa’s punishing sweep across western Jamaica, the expected outcome would be the prolonged closure of establishments. Yet, a mere 48 hours after the storm battered Montego Bay, popular dining spot Father Bull defiantly switched on its lights — powered by back-up systems — and welcomed residents in need of more than just a hot meal.

The reopening came despite the restaurant itself suffering heavy damage. Father Bull lost large sections of its perimeter fencing, its main signage was ripped away, and parts of its solar panel array were torn from the roof. Several windows were shattered, air-conditioning units mangled, and flood waters surged through parts of the building. Staff members were not spared either; some reported losing entire sections of their roofs, enduring significant flooding, and seeing personal property washed away.

Still, in the midst of destruction, the restaurant became a beacon.

“We knew people needed somewhere to go — for food, for power, for Wi-Fi, even just to connect with family,” said Romone Robinson, co-owner and managing director, surveying the still-visible scars of the storm.

“So as soon as we could clear a pathway and get the kitchen functional, we opened. Father Bull is trusted by the community; we knew residents would look to us for hope and we decided we had to open to cater to our employees and the community. They had access to our Starlink, charging stations and we became somewhat of a safe haven for people to be connected and to just have some level of normalcy,” Robinson added.

Being open is not without its challenges, ground provisions and vegetables have seen a significant price hike as well as limited availability, and water and fuel have to be secured daily. These factors have led to reduced opening hours and menu options, as well as only take-out services.

“The reaction from customers, though, makes it worth it. They’re highly appreciative as someone being able to get a cold drink sometimes goes a far way. For our food options, though, we are serving our staples including fried chicken, curry goat and oxtail with rice, fries and festivals,” Robinson explained.

Thursday Food spoke with patrons and the prevailing sentiment echoed Robinson’s statement, with some people expressing gratitude for the space opening and consistency in prices for food items despite the challenges.

“We’ve also gone beyond our immediate community in assisting the recovery efforts. We’re a World Central Kitchen partner and we’ve supplied meals for some remote areas and feedback has been tremendous. We’re playing our part in giving back,” Robinson said.

Father Bull recently opened its newest location at Drax Hall in St Ann which, thankfully, was spared of any damage structurally from the hurricane. Robinson expressed that the facility is operating at 100 per cent with patrons able to get the full Father Bull experience. He also noted that he was proud of the level of customer service displayed by the new team members there and their dedication to being a part of the Father Bull brand. Robinson closed by expressing optimism for the future and a willingness to pivot where necessary for delivering the best for customers.

Father Bull kitchen staff (from left) Urane Broderick, chef; Annoy Gordon, chef; Blossom Robinson, sanitation specialist; and Patric Troupe, chef, assist in keeping the kitchen running. (Photo: Aceion Cunningham)

Romone Robinson, co-owner and managing director, Father Bull Restaurant, speaks on the impact the restaurant has had since the passage of the hurricane.(Photo: Aceion Cunningham)

Patrons take advantage of the Wi-Fi and charging stations inside the restaurant.(Photo: Aceion Cunningham)

Fried chicken with rice and peas (Photo: Aceion Cunningham)

Curry goat with rice and peas (Photo: Aceion Cunningham)

Patrons at the bar and take-out line inside the restaurant (Photo: Aceion Cunningham)

Bartenders Leashia Gordon (left) and Mashoy Nash keeping smiles bright despite the challenges. (Photo: Aceion Cunningham)

Oxtail with rice and peas (Photo: Aceion Cunningham)

Devonte Pearson, chef, adds vegetables to a serving of oxtail. (Photo: Aceion Cunningham)

Kerline Johnson shares a photo op with her son Romone Robinson. (Photo: Aceion Cunningham)

The condenser units for the air-conditioning units that were damaged by the hurricane. (Photo: Aceion Cunningham)