Hundreds of people gathered to celebrate a Kansas City restaurant that was destroyed in an explosion at a benefit for its former employees.

More than 1,200 people attended the benefit Tuesday for JJ’s restaurant, a Country Club Plaza restaurant destroyed Feb. 19 by the explosion. One employee was killed and 15 other people were injured.

About three dozen restaurants contributed to Friends of JJ’s Benefit and several Kansas City artists performed.

Part of the event’s proceeds will go to the Megan Cramer Foundation for the Arts. Cramer, a server at JJ’s, died in the explosion. Other proceeds will help the injured and workers who lost their jobs.

Owner Jimmy Frantze said he was overwhelmed by the response. He has not said if he will rebuild the restaurant.