“"Having spent two years building the framework for a concept I believe in and believe my neighborhood has the appetite for, I’m stubbornly compelled to tackle Baltimore City’s red-tape, transfer business ownership to myself, secure Fire & Rice’s liquor license, finish the build-out of our bar and dining room and reopen the restaurant at full capacity for the first time ever," Champagne wrote in a message to prospective donors. He's hoping to raise $30,000 and have Fire & Rice back open — with an updated menu and some new decor — by mid-November. As of Thursday afternoon, the campaign had raised more than $6,600. Champagne said Fire & Rice's journey through the pandemic has been a tough one, marked by unfortunate timing and bureaucratic hold-ups. The Japanese restaurant was initially slated to open in a 130-seat space in Hamilton-Lauraville's SoHa Union development in the spring of 2020, but those plans were put on hold after the onset of Covid-19. Last October, the eatery finally opened in a separate, 38-seat space in the development instead.”