Lookout Mtn. Restaurant Owner Plans to Rebuild After Fire

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, TN (WDEF ) – Even though the building that houses the Cafe on the Corner has been around for more then a hundred years, not a single person has ever seen it look like this.

Ruth Oehmig says, "It’s a landmark, center for the mountain. It was a grocery store that everyone on the mountain grew up with and then a cousin opened it and it was Mountain Fountain."

It was even featured on our morning show back in 2007.

Years later, Oehmig transformed it into the Cafe on the Corner.

Chief Randall Bowden, with the Lookout Mountain Fire and Police Department, adds, "I think this building was built around 1910. It’s been remodeled, added on, done different things. With a roof line like it was, it made it very difficult for us to get to the attic space."

Chief Bowden says one of his police officers, as well as residents, heard an explosion around four Tuesday morning.

Chief Bowden adds, "We’re looking toward probably a gas explosion."

Natural gas was feeding the fire as they were trying to put it out.

According to Chief Bowden, "It just took awhile battling a tough fire."

The roof eventually caved in, and the patio that once held dozens of cycling spectators is now draped in caution tape.

Oehmig says, "I am just so grateful to the firemen. I’m so glad they’re all safe and I’m so glad for their response. Everyone’s safe, no one was hurt and nothing else matters. "

A few items in the kitchen were salvageable, but everything else was not.

Oehmig adds, "We plan to be here in full force as soon as we can."

Oehmig says she won’t let shattered windows shatter her dreams for the restaurant.

There’s no word on when the new restaurant will be in working order again.