OAKLAND — State fire investigators Sunday were trying to determine the cause of a fire that damaged Tracy’s Tavern, a restaurant on Kennedy Memorial Drive.
The fire was reported at 12:30 a.m. at a two-story wood  building which also houses H&R Block.
Tracy’s owner Jim Tracy, of Sidney, stood outside the building late Sunday morning, remembering all the hard work he and his family put into the business, which opened in November.
“It’s not good — not good at all,” he said. “It’s definitely rebuildable; it’s going to take a lot of elbow grease.”
Tracy’s son, Bob, the head cook and kitchen manager, said most of the damage was contained to the second floor.
The first floor housed the restaurant and kitchen; the second floor had a pool table, two couches, a large screen television, tables and chairs. Bob Tracy also lived in a room on the second floor, he said. The fire broke out after the business had closed late Saturday.
“The fire started in my room,” Bob Tracy said. “I was downstairs and I heard a smoke alarm and went up. I walked in my room and it was all burning. I just ran out and called 911.”
His father, Jim Tracy,  said he leases space in the building for the business from Dennis Morneau of Smithfield.
“The kitchen is still intact, 100 percent,” Jim Tracy said. “The bar area is just dirty. The food is a total loss — and pictures, TVs, pool table.”
He said the business is insured.
As of late Sunday morning, he believed the cause of the fire was electrical in origin, but he was awaiting results of the state fire investigation.
“The business has been growing and going very well,” Jim Tracy said. “This is Oakland’s newest place to come, for a birthday party, get-together or just dinner.”
He said the business — which is a restaurant, not a bar — employs seven people. He and his wife both work full time outside the tavern and worked seven days a week to get the business up and running for their son, who loves to cook, he said.
The business was open 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. o n the weekends, he said. It was closed Sunday and Monday.
Tracy’s Tavern is located at the corner of Pine Acres Drive and Kennedy Memorial Drive, west of Ray Haskell Ford.

Amy Calder — 861-9247
acalder@centralmaine.com

 

 

Copy the Story Link