Blaze consumes restaurant near fire-damaged bridge in NE Atlanta

A restaurant on Cheshire Bridge Road went up in flames Monday night about a quarter-mile from a bridge that was seriously damaged by fire a few days earlier.

About 30 Atlanta firefighters responded to Las Margaritas, where an intense fire engulfed the free-standing building, Channel 2 Action News reported. The restaurant is typically closed on Mondays, according to the hours posted on its website.

The blaze was initially reported as a grass fire, but its cause remains under investigation, Atlanta fire officials told the news station. No one was injured, officials said.

Las Margaritas is just down the street from a bridge over railroad tracks that was damaged in a serious fire just a few days earlier. The bridge will remain closed to all traffic as it undergoes repairs, Atlanta Department of Transportation officials told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. There is no timetable for Cheshire Bridge Road to reopen and detour signs have been installed.

Michele Michael Petties said Las Margaritas is a family restaurant and has been in that location for more than two decades.

“I know everybody is gonna be hurt,” Petties, the owner’s sister, told Channel 2. “This is a local spot. People have been coming here for years. I’ve actually raised my children in this restaurant, so it’s gonna be a loss for everybody in the community.”

— Please return to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for updates.