Rose Kennedy Schlossberg left devastated as blaze destroys her wife’s restaurant in California

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By Maya Cantina

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  • A fire early Wednesday morning caused significant damage to Rory’s Place in Ojai, California
  • The restaurant is owned by Rory McAuliffe, who is the wife of JFK and Jackie Kennedy Onassis’s eldest granddaughter Rose Kennedy Schlossberg 
  • Authorities say there were no injuries and have not confirmed the official cause of the fire

Jackie Kennedy’s oldest granddaughter was left distraught Wednesday after a night-after-Christmas blaze destroyed her wife’s tony restaurant.

The  fire caused significant damage to Rory’s Place, run by Rory McAuliffe who married Rose Schlossberg in 2022.

Rose often helps at the eatery by bussing tables. 

The restaurant in Ojai, California, caught fire early Wednesday morning due to a suspected faulty electric wire. Authorities say there were no injuries. 

A post on the restaurant’s Instagram page shared photos of the damage, calling it ‘a devastating nightmare of a night at Rory’s Place.’   

Just earlier this year, Jackie O’s lookalike granddaughter Rose –  affectionately called ‘Ro’ or ‘Ro Ro’ by friends – was pictured bussing tables, greeting guests and grabbing coffee at the restaurant.

A fire early Wednesday morning caused significant damage to Rory’s Place in Ojai, California – a restaurant owned by Rose Kennedy Schlossberg’s  wife Rory McAuliffe

Rory's Place in Ojai, California, caught on fire early Wednesday morning due to a suspected faulty electric wire. Authorities say there were no injuries

Rory’s Place in Ojai, California, caught on fire early Wednesday morning due to a suspected faulty electric wire. Authorities say there were no injuries

On Wednesday morning, visibly distressed McAuliffe was seen lugging items out of the damaged restaurant in two large blue bags

On Wednesday morning, visibly distressed McAuliffe was seen lugging items out of the damaged restaurant in two large blue bags

The restaurant is run by Rory and her sister Meave

The restaurant is run by Rory and her sister Meave

The restaurant is run by Rory and her sister Meave

Ventura County Fire Capt. Brian McGrath told DailyMail.com, 'The fire at 139 E Ojai Ave (Rory's) place started just after midnight this morning. It was a first alarm fire, with 6 fire engines and 2 support companies responding and several investigators'

Ventura County Fire Capt. Brian McGrath told DailyMail.com, ‘The fire at 139 E Ojai Ave (Rory’s) place started just after midnight this morning. It was a first alarm fire, with 6 fire engines and 2 support companies responding and several investigators’

'The fire caused significant damage, but the restaurant could be possible salvaged. That will be up to the city inspectors and owner of the building. The restaurant isn't going to be opened up anytime soon,' said McGrath

‘The fire caused significant damage, but the restaurant could be possible salvaged. That will be up to the city inspectors and owner of the building. The restaurant isn’t going to be opened up anytime soon,’ said McGrath

'VCFD had to break through lots of stucco to get to a fire in the wall that they think was caused by electrical wiring behind the walk in fridge. We're usually closed Tuesdays, but we opened this Tuesday for the holidays. Don't even want to imagine what would've happened if we were closed as usual,' a post on the restaurant's Instagram page said

‘VCFD had to break through lots of stucco to get to a fire in the wall that they think was caused by electrical wiring behind the walk in fridge. We’re usually closed Tuesdays, but we opened this Tuesday for the holidays. Don’t even want to imagine what would’ve happened if we were closed as usual,’ a post on the restaurant’s Instagram page said 

Authorities said they aren't sure of the cause of the fire and said 'it is still under investigation'

Authorities said they aren’t sure of the cause of the fire and said ‘it is still under investigation’

Ventura County Fire Capt. Brian McGrath told DailyMail.com, ‘The fire at 139 E Ojai Ave (Rory’s) place started just after midnight this morning. It was a first alarm fire, with six fire engines and two support companies responding and several investigators.’

He said the blaze took just under an hour and half to extinguish.  

‘We got the call at 12:05 AM and was all clear at 1.22am, no injuries were reported,’ McGrath said, ‘The fire was a tough one to track down and trace. We had to open up several walls in the rear of the restaurant to find the fire.’

He said he isn’t sure of the cause of the fire and said ‘it is still under investigation.’

Rose resembles her famous grandmother Jackie Kennedy Onassis with dark hair and wide set eyes

 Rose resembles her famous grandmother Jackie Kennedy Onassis with dark hair and wide set eyes

‘The fire caused significant damage, but the restaurant could be possibly salvaged. That will be up to the city inspectors and owner of the building.

 The restaurant isn’t going to be opened up anytime soon,’ said McGrath.

On Wednesday morning, visibly distressed McAuliffe was seen lugging items out of the damaged restaurant in two large blue bags.

On the restaurant’s Instagram page, the owners tried to make light of a bad situation, writing, ‘We thought these walk in refrigerators were meant to keep things cold!!!

‘Jk just trying to keep it light after a devastating nightmare of a night at Rory’s Place. Fortunately, and most importantly, nobody was injured. Our incredibly brave staff Alejandro and Carmen were on site to catch the fire and call the fire department.

‘VCFD had to break through lots of stucco to get to a fire in the wall that they think was caused by electrical wiring behind the walk in fridge. We’re usually closed Tuesdays, but we opened this Tuesday for the holidays. 

‘Don’t even want to imagine what would’ve happened if we were closed as usual.’

The restaurant is run by Rory and her sister Meave.

‘Meave went home at 4am saying she wanted to become a fireman. Those guys are impressive,’ Rory added. 

‘We’re figuring out what this means for the whole Rory’s Place family right now. We’ll post updates as we get them. But for now – we are closed to assess/repair/rebuild. Hoping for a swift process, both for our team and for our community! Cross your fingers it’s only a couple weeks.’ 

Rose and restaurateur Rory McAuliffe married at their $1.2 million home in Ojai, California, in May 2022

Rose and restaurateur Rory McAuliffe married at their $1.2 million home in Ojai, California, in May 2022

The eldest grandchild of JFK and Jackie Kennedy Onassis is as far away from the trappings of Camelot as you could get

The 34-year-old was seen bussing tables, greeting guests and grabbing coffee at her wife's restaurant

The 34-year-old was seen bussing tables, greeting guests and grabbing coffee at her wife’s restaurant

Rose comes from the disaster-plagued Kennedy clan. Her grandparents were  President John Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1963 and Former First Lady Jacqueline who died in 1994.

They had three children, John Jr, who was killed in a 1999 plane crash, Patrick who died as an infant and Caroline, Rose’s mother who married exhibit designer Edwin Schlossberg and is now US Ambassador to Ausrtralia.

Rose was raised with siblings Tatiana, 32, Jack, 30, on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.

She was just five when her beloved grandmother passed away from Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 1994.

She attended the prestigious Brearley private school, where tuition is $60k a year.

After high school, she went on to get an English degree from Harvard University.

While she later dabbled in politics, filmmaking and fashion, Rose has settled into a relaxing life on the West Coast.

Last October, DailyMail.com spotted the physically fit Kennedy partaking in one of her favorite sports – surfing – in Ventura. 

McAuliffe runs Rory's Place, a farm-to-table restaurant, with her older sister Meave

McAuliffe runs Rory’s Place, a farm-to-table restaurant, with her older sister Meave

DailyMail.com spotted Rose surfing in Ventura, California in October 2022

 DailyMail.com spotted Rose surfing in Ventura, California in October 2022

In May of 2022, she and wife Rory exchanged ‘I do’s’ in front of 300 friends and family at their $1.2million home in Ojai.

Ojai is approximately thirteen miles inland from costal Ventura and has a population of around 8,000.

It attracts the artsy crowd, outdoor enthusiasts because of the biking and walking trails, and the pampered Los Angeles set who visit the stunning Ojai Valley Inn & Spa.

While Rory’s Place has only been open just over a year, Rose has shown she’s not afraid to roll up her sleeves and chip in and help.

She regularly visits farms with her wife helping pick fruits and veggies for that evening’s menu.

Rose likely could have followed in other Kennedy family member’s footsteps and pursued a life in the limelight but has chosen her own path in a small town where to them, she’s just ‘Ro.’ 

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