Roche Bar damaged by sledgehammer-wielding duo

John Roche has lots of friends — some he doesn't even know — and that makes him feel better in the wake of two men trashing the front of the historic Roche Bar in Port Huron.

"The support from the community has been really cool," Roche, who has run the family-owned bar for 25 years. "With all the people coming out, it makes you feel better."

Roche said two men with sledgehammers broke out the block glass windows in the front of the building. They also tried to pound down the front door to the establishment.

The Roche Bar has been part of his family for 115 years. The building, at 405 Quay St., dates back to at least 1849 — and it might be older.

Roche said two men were kicked out of the bar Wednesday night because they were starting fights. He said the pair went home, donned snowmobile suits and ski masks, and came back with sledgehammers around 3:30 a.m. Thursday.

The glass block windows likely will have to be completely replaced, he said, because the remaining blocks are so old that it will be next to impossible to match them.

Just replacing the blocks will cost at least $5,000 and maybe more, Roche said.

He said the noise from the sledgehammer attack woke neighbors and his son, who lives above the bar. They at first thought it was from city workers clearing snow, but they were able to get a description of the car the men were driving.

Roche said Port Huron police were able to locate and arrest the men. They could face charges of malicious destruction and attempted breaking and entering, he said.

Roche was getting quotes for the repair work on Saturday, but planned to be open at 3 p.m.

"We have to pay the deductible, but the insurance will cover (the damage)," he said.

The Roche Bar has a Facebook page at www.facebook.com/rochebar. A fund to help restore the front of the building has been established at www.gofundme.com/1fvfcg.

Contact Bob Gross at (810) 989-6263 or rgross@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @RobertGross477