Owner of restaurant destroyed by fire plans to rebuild

April 25-- Apr. 25--MOULTON -- The owner of a downtown Moulton restaurant that fire destroyed Monday said he plans to rebuild and will start the process as soon as the site is released by state and local fire officials.

Art Moss, who owns Court Street Grill, said he also plans to have rubble cleaned up by May 4 in time for the annual Strawberry Festival on the courthouse square in Moulton.

"We are coming back," he said by phone Wednesday morning.

Moss, who was in an automobile accident recently and not at the restaurant site Wednesday, referred further questions to spokesman Duane Vadron Evans, who was at the site waiting on insurance adjusters.

Meanwhile, the cause of the fire that destroyed the restaurant and two other downtown businesses will be listed as undetermined, and the estimated cost of the damage exceeds $2 million, Moulton Fire Chief Ryan Jolly said.

"Three businesses are gone," he said.

State fire marshal officials were at the scene Tuesday and met with Jolly about trying to determine the cause of the fire that started Monday night shortly after 8 p.m. when the restaurant was closing.

Workers said they saw smoke coming from a closet on the second floor and had to evacuate the building quickly.

"We concluded that the damage is so extensive that we just can't determine a cause," Jolly said.

In addition to destroying Court Street Grill, the fire also destroyed Tucker's Accessory Tire and Auto and DeJavu Salon. Tucker's burned to the ground, while the roof of DeJavu collapsed and the building suffered significant smoke and water damage.

Moulton attorney Tom Denham owns two buildings on the square that were near the fire and he said both were saved. He said the owner of Dejavu will temporarily rent another building he owns on Alabama 157, but "they want to be back on the square within 30 days."

One of Denham's buildings on Court Street was vacant and he's in discussions to rent it to the salon owner. His other building houses the state probation office.

Jeremy Lock & Key is on the corner next to Denham's two buildings, and its owner said he will reopen.

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Jolly said he is keeping Court Street closed because parts of the Court Street Grill building are unstable. He said they are letting the fire "burn itself out" and that the contractor who razed the second floor of the restaurant on Tuesday planned to return and take down all the unstable walls.

"There's still too much potential danger to open areas around the fire," Jolly said.

Charlie Bishop said Moss' announcement he would rebuild the restaurant was what he wanted to hear.

"I eat there just about every day," he said. "When he reopens, I'm going to try to be the first customer."

Evans said the restaurant had about 25 employees. He said Moss wants the new restaurant not to come as close to the curb and to have a courtyard in the front.

"This is a beautiful square, and they are a vanishing part of America," he said.

Evans said Moss is gathering historical records about the building that was originally designed to be a hotel when it was constructed in the 1940s.

"We're also trying to find historical pictures, and we have located the family that laid the original bricks in the building," he said.

Every building on the courthouse square was added to the National Historic Registry about two decades ago.

Lawrence County Archivist Wendy Hazel said she has been in contact with the Alabama Historical Commission about how Moss needs to proceed with rebuilding since the square is on the historical registry.

"We're going to do what we can to help him, and I'm thrilled he wants to rebuild with a historical look," she said.

Moulton Mayor Roger Weatherwax said city officials will do "everything we can" to help the business owners.

"We're going to let the emergency people do their work, and then we'll get in there and see what the city can do," he said. -- [email protected] or 256-340-2469. Twitter @DD_Deangelo.

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