This restaurant in downtown Fresno could be closed for weeks — or longer. Here’s why
Every door and window at the Denny’s in downtown Fresno is boarded up and the restaurant is closed.
What’s going on?
A fire broke out at the restaurant on Abby Street near Divisadero Street Nov. 22 and it’s been closed ever since.
The company says it plans to reopen — though it could be a while.
In a short statement emailed to The Bee, a Denny’s spokesperson said: “At this time, there are hopeful plans to reopen the first half of the year.”
The company did not provide any more details about when it might reopen or the damage done to the property.
According to Fresno Fire Department public information officer Jonathan Lopez, the fire was contained to a utility or storage room accessed from the outside. It did $51,000 worth of damage.
The facade and part of the ceiling were damaged while fighting the fire, he said.
“As far as I know, the fire didn’t get into the main part of the building,” he said.
He added: “The official cause of the fire is undetermined, but in speaking to the property manager and folks that were there on scene, they had some homeless activity in that area that had been an issue at that location in days up to the fire.”
On the night of the fire, a delivery person for nearby DiCicco’s spotted flames coming from the room, and joined with bystanders and Denny’s employees to use fire extinguishers and a hose on the fire, KFSN ABC 30 reported.
A security guard is patrolling the property.
