PERRYSBURG, Ohio — A large fire that destroyed the Ralphie's Sports Eatery in Perrysburg Township was determined to be accidental, authorities said Friday.
Flames erupted at the restaurant just before midnight Tuesday, May 5 and was deemed a "total loss."
Following an investigation, crews determined the fire started on a grill in the kitchen and spread into the attic.
Officials said the flames were first spotted by an officer on patrol who then called the fire in.
When crews arrived on scene, the fire had already burned through the roof. Smoke could be seen from miles away.
May 6: Large fire erupts at Perrysburg Ralphie's
The restaurant was reportedly open Tuesday night for delivery and curbside until around 8 p.m.
Nobody was inside of the restaurant when the fire started and the cause is still unknown.
"It's sad. It's really sad. You don't want to see things like that happen to companies in small towns," said Simeon Serda, a manager at Fricker's, a sports bar next door. "Since I was a boy. I lived in Perrysburg a long time so we would frequent both locations."
A spokesman for Bennett Enterprises gave the following statement:
"Our Perrysburg Ralphies was one of eight Ralphies Sports Eatery we own and operate. We created the concept and the Perrysburg unit was our third to open in December, 1992. It was a favorite lunch location of Dave Bennett, one of our founders.
Prior to the current pandemic we employed 28 people at the Perrysburg location. During the course of the pandemic we operated with 7 employees and were in the process of bringing additional employees back to work in anticipation of limited dining room traffic being established. We will do our best at placing our Perrysburg team at other Bennett locations."
