Fire damages Kannapolis landmark restaurant

KANNAPOLIS — A Sunday morning fire has temporarily shut down a popular restaurant here.

The fire started shortly after 9 a.m. in the kitchen at McCabes Restaurant, 316 Brookdale St. It caused between $30,000 and $40,000 damage, Kannapolis Fire Capt. Rick Barnhardt said.

Owner Nick Georgiou had been in the kitchen preparing for a lunchtime party and walked to the front of the business to speak on the telephone, Barnhardt said.

The unattended food apparently overcooked and caught fire, Barnhardt said. Georgiou “noticed a glow, put the phone down and went to look, came back and called 911.”

A city crew working on the sewer system outside the restaurant also reported the blaze, which quickly spread through the kitchen exhaust system and was visible through vents on the roof.

Flames burned through at least one vent and began to consume the roof before firefighters arrived and got it under control, Barnhardt said.

Inside, the restaurant sprinkler system had the fire in check when firefighters arrived, he said.

But water from sprinklers hit a clogged drainage system in the kitchen and backed up into the dining area, damaging the carpet.

The fire also heavily damaged the exhaust and vents, Barnhardt said.

This morning, a handmade sign attached to the front of the restaurant said “Sorry ... we are closed temporarily due to an accident.”

It was unclear how long the restaurant would remain closed. Georgiou could not be reached by telephone.

Contact Scott Jenkins at 704-797-4248 or sjenkins@salisburypost.com .