ATLANTA (AP) – A historic Krispy Kreme Donuts store in Atlanta owned by basketball star Shaquille O’Neal, dating back to the mid-1960s, was engulfed in flames early Wednesday, severely affecting the structure.
Atlanta fire crews responded to the iconic restaurant on Ponce de Leon Boulevard shortly after midnight, media reported. The video posted on social media showed angry flames.
The Midtown store was opened in 1965, and O’Neal bought it in 2016, media reported.
“I hope no one was hurt and we will be back better than ever,” O’Neal said in a statement.
“We and our store partner, Shaquille O’Neal, are extremely grateful that no one was injured and for the prompt response and outstanding work of local fire and police departments,” said Jack Farmer, who represents Krispy Kreme. .
“We are working with the authorities to assess the damage and we are uncertain at this time how long the store will be closed,” he added. “However, we intend to reopen the store as soon as possible! In the meantime, members of our Ponce team will continue to receive full pay as we identify them and offer them roles at other Krispy Kreme stores in the area. ”
Battalion Chief Douglas Hatcher said firefighters rescued most of the building after the fire started in the back. No injuries were reported. Hatcher said the cause of the fire is being investigated.
Midtown Krispy Kreme was one of the first locations established outside the company’s main operations base in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and Nashville, Tennessee.
After Martin Luther King Jr.’s funeral in April 1968, Krispy Kreme fed the mourners by donating 150 dozen donuts to churches in Atlanta.
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An earlier version of this story incorrectly said that the store was over 60 years old. It was opened in 1965.