Park Slope restaurant leans on the community after a devasting fire
Just one day earlier, owner George Kontolios said the restaurant had celebrated its 10-year anniversary.
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A Park Slope restaurant is turning to the community for help after a fire tore through its basement last week, causing what the owner say is hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage.
Smoke was seen billowing out of Empanada Loca on Fifth Avenue around 4:30 p.m. last Monday. Just one day earlier, owner George Kontolios said the restaurant had celebrated its 10-year anniversary.
“I felt like my life’s work was just going up in flames,” Kontolios told News 12.
Kontolios says the FDNY told him, the fire originated in the basement and was likely electrical in nature. While no one was injured and the main floor of the restaurant was not impacted, the basement was heavily damaged.
“The FDNY is amazing. They got here very quickly,” said Kontolios. “I don’t know if there would have been a building here without them.”
Initial estimates put the cost of repairs between $150,000 to $200,000, Kontolios said.
The fire came just over a year after a major redesign. In 2023, Kontolios invested about $250,000 to renovate the space, hoping to elevate the dining experience.
“We didn’t even start to recoup our money yet,” he said.
Now, the community is stepping in. Supporters have launched a GoFundMe campaign to help offset the financial burden and get the restaurant back on its feet.
“I’m so happy that this community really comes together that way,” said Kontolios. “I don’t know if we’re going to be able to come back from it without the community’s help.”
