Matunuck Oyster Bar likely total loss after fire. What we know.
WAKEFIELD – A fire at Matunuck Oyster Bar in South Kingstown early in the morning on May 20 caused serious damage to the iconic restaurant and firefighters say the restaurant will likely be a total loss.
"The building did suffer a lot of damage," Union Fire Chief Steve Pinch said Tuesday morning. "I would think they'd probably have to take the building down and start over."
No injuries were reported.
Firefighters found "a large amount of fire" coming from the 2½-story Matunuck Oyster Bar when they responded before 4 a.m., Pinch said. Firefighters got the call at about 3:44 a.m. and were there within 8 minutes, he said.
The fire was initially fueled by a strong wind, but the wind died down within about a half hour, and the approximately 35 firefighters on scene had the fire under control within about 1½ hours, Pinch said.
Pinch and other firefighters were still at the fire scene as of about 8 a.m., cleaning up and putting out hot spots. Restaurant owner Perry Raso was also there.
The state Fire Marshals Office is investigating the cause, which is standard procedure, Pinch said. He said the restaurant was open Monday night.
Matunuck Oyster Bar is one of Rhode Island's most popular restaurants and, according to USA Today's 2024 Restaurants of the Year list, one of the top 44 places to eat in America.
Raso started the restaurant as an extension of his oyster farming business in 2009.
He founded Matunuck Oyster Farm in 2002 on a 7-acre commercial aquaculture lease, on Potter Pond in East Matunuck, a village in South Kingstown.
Because he needed the dock in 2009, Raso purchased a small, seasonal restaurant on the inlet and it's grown from there.
Pinch has dined at Matunuck Oyster Bar and called it an "awesome" restaurant.
"We feel bad for all of the employees, and everyone affected by this fire," Pinch said. "It's heartbreaking."
The Union Fire District received mutual aid from Charlestown, Narragansett and North Kingstown in covering fire stations.
Previous reporting from Staff Writer Gail Ciampa was used in this story. This story has been updated with new information.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Fire at Matunuck Oyster Bar in South Kingstown, building likely total loss
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