A structure fire was reported at Coronado Vineyards at 4:24 a.m. on July 6, according to Willcox Fire Chief Dale Hadfield. The vineyard, located 91 miles east of Tucson, was closed to guests for the summer.
Hadfield said the building that housed the vineyard’s tasting room and shop is a “total loss.”
“The extent of the damage, it was pretty severe,” Hadfield said. “It burned very hot.”
Hicks, a former police officer and attorney, bought the vineyard with his wife Roxanne in 2020.
He has also made headlines in the Valley, if not for the best reasons. Hicks ran locations of Throne Brewing Co. in downtown Phoenix and Peoria. He also owned The Pairing Room, a short-lived downtown Phoenix restaurant that featured Coronado Vineyards wines and Throne beers paired with small plates and entrees.
He has also made headlines in the Valley, if not for the best reasons. Hicks ran locations of Throne Brewing Co. in downtown Phoenix and Peoria. He also owned The Pairing Room, a short-lived downtown Phoenix restaurant that featured Coronado Vineyards wines and Throne beers paired with small plates and entrees.
The Pairing Room, which closed in downtown Phoenix in July 2024, highlighted sips from Willcox's Coronado Vineyards.
Sara Crocker
The Pairing Room closed in July 2024, which Hicks attributed to “the economic downturn and customers not coming in.” That was followed by the closure of the Peoria location of Throne in September 2024 and the downtown brewpub in November 2024.
Hicks previously declined to comment on the allegations of wage theft. He was not able to be reached by Phoenix New Times following the fire.
In 2024, two former staff members filed separate lawsuits against the Hickses and their Phoenix restaurants, alleging they were owed thousands of dollars in unpaid wages and tips. Earlier this year, the Hickses were ordered to pay Amber Sandell more than $2,600 and nearly $2,500 to Natalie Monge.
However, those court orders were paused shortly thereafter because Hicks had filed for chapter 13 bankruptcy, according to court filings. This is a form of bankruptcy where those with regular income can create a plan to repay their debt.
In March, an attorney for Hicks filed chapter 12 bankruptcy for the business entity tied to the vineyard, according to court records. Chapter 12 bankruptcy is designed for "family farmers" who will likewise build a debt repayment plan.
Willcox Fire Chief Dale Hadfield described the vineyard's tasting room and shop as "a total loss."
Cochise County Sheriff's Office
Then, the liquor license for the vineyard expired on June 30, according to state records. On July 6, the property burned to the ground.
By the time firefighters arrived, the building was mostly ablaze, Hadfield said. The crew responded with tanker trucks, having to haul in water because the vineyard is located outside of city limits. Firefighters used between 22,000 to 26,000 gallons of water to put the fire out, Hadfield estimated.
The investigation into the blaze is ongoing, and Capas anticipates the sheriff's office will release its official findings on the fire's cause later this week.
