New restaurant destroyed, apartment tenants displaced after 2-alarm fire in Bed Stuy
It happened shortly before 2:30 a.m. Thursday at 338 Franklin Ave., located near Green Avenue.
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A new restaurant was destroyed and several apartment tenants were displaced, after a 2-alarm fire inside a mixed-use, 4-story building in Bed-Stuy.
It happened shortly before 2:30 a.m. Thursday at 338 Franklin Ave., located near Green Avenue.
The FDNY said flames broke out inside the ground-floor restaurant and spread to apartments above.
Fire officials said more than 140 fire and EMS personnel responded to the scene. They said it took about 90 minutes to get the flames under control.
“I’ve been here for 60 years, and I've never seen that many from the fire department,” said Shawney Greenfield, of Bed Stuy. “There had to be 15 trucks out here last night.”
Greenfield said the new restaurant was set to open soon, offering authentic Chinese cuisine and cocktails.
“Everything was new,” said Greenfield. “I saw the delivery guys deliver the refrigerator and different things last week.”
Greenfield told News 12 that he saw three restaurant employees who were emotional as they assessed the damage.
“They were on the sidewalk crying,” said Greenfield.
The business was already closed when News 12 arrived. The Department of Buildings issued a full vacate order.
The property owner declined to be interviewed and told News 12 by phone, “These things happen.”
Next door at Bar Birba, co-owner Matt Diaz said they sustained damage as firefighters searched for the source of the fire.
“They ripped up all of our walls and busted up much of our furniture,” said Diaz.
The FDNY said the health department was notified.
No injuries were reported.
“Just happy that no one in the building was hurt,” said Diaz.
The Red Cross told News 12 that they registered four households, including five adults and three children, for emergency assistance, but everyone self-located after the fire.
