Fire destroys Olde Towne restaurant downtown
By Andy Paras , Glenn Smith
Updated 11:57 a.m., July 7, 2009
A thick cloud of smoke hung over downtown Charleston this morning as firefighters extinguished a blaze that began in the rear of the Old Towne Grill and Seafood restaurant next to The Riviera building.
The fire, first reported at 8:08 a.m., is being ruled as accidental, according to Mark Ruppel, the public information officer for the Charleston Fire Department.
Video
Olde Towne Fire
City of Charleston Fire Department responded to a fire at the Olde Towne Grill on King Street Tuesday morning. July 7, 2009
Olde Towne owner Spiro Fokas had contracted with crews to work on the roof of the building Tuesday morning. The crews arrived about 7 a.m., and used power tools to cut a hole in the roof. When they left the site to pick up supplies, the fire started.
The fire spread to the attic of the small cinderblock building where crews had begun work, Ruppel said. Firefighters were on the scene by 8:10 a.m., parking a ladder truck in front of the Riviera and battling smoke and flames in the back.
There was a little external scorching, but no significant damage to The Riviera, said Paul Stracey, general manager of Charleston Place, which is the owner of The Riviera building.
The restaurant, which opened in 1972 at 229 King St., is across from Charleston Place. Athan Fokas, the son of the restaurant's owner, said no one was due to work at the restaurant until 9 a.m.
Photo Gallery
Olde Towne Grill fire
Photos from Tuesday morning's fire at the Olde Towne Grill on King Street.
Jeremy Wellman was among the first to call 911. A worker at Sweetgrass Cafe on Market Street, he smelled smoke in the air when he stepped outside to take break.
"It smelled like something was burning," he said. "There was no visible smoke at first. Then, all of a sudden, billowing black smoke start pouring out."
Wellman and other witnesses reported hearing popping sounds. "It sounded like firecrackers going off."
Liz Harrison, who works at neighboring City Lights Cafe, said it sounded to her as though windows were breaking in the business as the fire grew.
The building is one of three tenements constructed in a row by businesswoman Rachel Lazarus around 1839, according to Jonathan Poston's "The Buildings of Charleston." Lazarus, who was in the dry goods business, constructed the three-story buildings with a loan from the city after the great fire of 1838, Poston's book states.
Firefighters also battled the heat of the day, as they drank water provided by the Charleston Place hotel. Downtown traffic was snarled while firefighters battled the blaze and police blocked off King Street from Wentworth Street south.
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Comments
FreakOfNature (anonymous) says...
Why has a determination already been made that there's nothing suspicious about the fire?
July 7, 2009 at 10:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
craigdelk (anonymous) says...
I think this was written by a 4 year old. If you can't write anything less dis-jointed, please find another career.
Stating that the firefighters were battling the "heat of the day"... at 8:00 am and "were seen drinking water" to cool down has got to among the worst things I have ever seen plugged into a story to fill space.
Please, don't consider, just find a different career because writing isn't for you.
July 7, 2009 at 10:21 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
green123 (anonymous) says...
that is true, the heat of the day usually isn't until about 2-6 and i drink water all day long.
July 7, 2009 at 10:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Dixiegirl (anonymous) says...
Yes the hottest time of day is around 2pm. But have you ever had full gear on fighting a fire? No matter what time it is you are hot. Even in the winter! My husband is a firefighter and he's told me he's been at a fire at 5am and pouring sweat.
July 7, 2009 at 11:18 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
NakedYoga (anonymous) says...
FreakOfNature: "Why has a determination already been made that there's nothing suspicious about the fire?"
The article clearly says that the fire isn't considered suspicious "at this time . . . but it remains under investigation."
Reading comprehension.
This is unfortunate; I always enjoyed my meals there.
July 7, 2009 at 11:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
gococks1985 (anonymous) says...
People will gripe about anything...
July 7, 2009 at 11:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
GGfan4life (anonymous) says...
I agree with Dixiegirl. I'd be having a hard time even without the 20 to 40 pounds of gear on my back. It's unfortunate that people need to be so rude when critiquing this article, as it is informative despite is disjointedness. I'm happy that the front structure appears to remain unscathed but I'm sorry to see this happen to this establishment.
July 7, 2009 at 11:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
FreakOfNature (anonymous) says...
My question wasn't whether the fire was suspicious or not. My question was why a determination had already been made (regardless of an ongoing investigation). A statement as to the suspiciousness of the fire seems a little premature while the smoke is still billowing in the background.
July 7, 2009 at 12:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
southerngirl45 (anonymous) says...
I AM SOOOO SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT "OLDE TOWNE" BURNING DOWN. tHAT IS MY MOST FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT LUNCH AND I HOPE THEY REBUILD SOON.I ALSO AM SORRY FOR THE PEOPLE WHO WORK THERE.THEY WERE ALWAYS ON THE BALL AND KNEW EVERYONE AND WHO NEEEDED TO GET BACK TO WORK ON TIME.SERVICE WAS GREAT AND THE FOOD AWSOME AND FOR ALL YOU DOWNERS WHO ALWAYS HAVE SOMETHING NEGATIVE TO SAY FIND ANOTHER WAY TO ENTERTAINE YOURSELVES BECAUSE NO-ONE GIVES A RAT'S ---ABOUT YOUR NEGATIVITY.I AM TRULY GOING TO MISS THAT PLACE AND MAY I ADD THAT I COMMEND THE CHARLESTON FIREFIGHTERS WHO BATTLED THE BLAZE.I WOULD IMAGINE A FURNACE OF FIRE ABSOLUTLY WOULD EXAUST YOU AND MAKE YOU THIRSTY NO MATTER WHAT TIME OF THE DAY.
July 7, 2009 at 12:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
joshmerd (anonymous) says...
That sucks! They had the best shrimp 'n grits!
July 7, 2009 at 1:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
craigdelk (anonymous) says...
To potential haters, the above story is now filled in and is not the same story that was originally posted.
This was a decent restaurant and it sucks to hear about it burning down. Congrats to the firefighters for being there so quickly and for nobody being hurt.
July 7, 2009 at 3:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
firemike (anonymous) says...
"after the great fire of 1838" - with out fire sprinklers in these buildings it could happen again. What if Jeremy Wellman wasn't there to call 911? What if this happened during rush hour? It took only 2 minutes for the fire fighters to respond and the building was almost totally destroyed. What if it took fire fighters 4 to 5 minutes to respond because of traffic or because it was the middle of the night? I can tell you what would have happened - the next great Charleston fire! Fire sprinklers should be installed if you want to save your buildings and fire fighters lives - period!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NUKYQ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8lRk-...
July 7, 2009 at 6:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
firemike (anonymous) says...
As the video say "the SINGLE most effective way to stop fire!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCtM0k...
July 7, 2009 at 6:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JohnS (anonymous) says...
How do you say Jewish lightning in Greek?
July 7, 2009 at 11:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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