Restaurant will be closed up to six weeks following car crash, Bric says [Burbank Leader, Glendale, Calif.]

Oct. 30--Burbank Councilman Gary Bric's restaurant will be closed for up to six weeks after a stolen car rammed into the building late Monday night, causing an estimated $150,000 in damages, the councilman said.

Prior to the crash, police saw the car driving at high speed on the southbound Golden State (5) Freeway, according to Los Angeles Police Sgt. David Delgado.

As police pursued, the motorist exited onto Hollywood Way, ran a stop sign and clipped another vehicle before crashing into the business, called Gary Bric's Ramp, located 7730 N. Hollywood Way in Sun Valley, Delgado said.

Two people -- an adult and a juvenile -- were arrested at the scene, said Los Angeles Police Det. James Jarvis.

No customers or employees were injured, Bric said.

When Bric arrived at the restaurant after hearing the news from his bartender, he was shocked at the extent of damage.

The car left a "big, gaping hole" in the restaurant, crushed a booth and ruptured his gas and water lines, Bric said.

"It was pretty ugly," he said Tuesday afternoon, adding that he had been on scene since just before midnight Monday, with the exception of two quick trips home to let his dogs out.

Bric on Tuesday was left calling his suppliers to stop deliveries. Still, he has roughly $10,000 of inventory -- meat, fish, lobsters and crab -- at the restaurant, he said.

He and his 14 employees will be covered by his insurance while they're out of work until the damages are repaired.

"I want to make sure they're taken care of, they're going to be out of a job for a while," Bric said.

The crash came just before the holidays, which Bric said is the busiest time of the year for his restaurant.

"I'm afraid to even think about how many Christmas parties we're going to lose," he said.

The councilman added that he was grateful to the Los Angeles police and fire departments, along with the Burbank Police Department and the gas company, for their professionalism while responding to the scene.

"It's just a little set back. These things happen," he said.

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