6 days ago
State College area restaurant temporarily closed after vehicle crashes into dining room
A State College area restaurant remains temporarily closed after a vehicle crashed into its dining room early Tuesday morning, causing the owners to joke that a new drive-thru doesn't seem like a good fit.
Bonfire Old Fashioned BBQ, located about a mile from Nittany Mall, was forced to close its doors Tuesday after a car wrecked through the front of its brick building around 2 a.m. The College Township restaurant posted photos of the crash on its Facebook account, showing a dining room filled with knocked-over tables and chairs next to piles of bricks.
The vehicle appeared to be in one piece. But the front-right wheel was missing, based on photos.
No one was in the restaurant at the time of the crash, a co-owner told the Centre Daily Times. The driver also did not suffer serious injuries and is not under suspicion of operating the vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol, according to State College police.
'They just lost control,' Lt. Ted Hubler told the CDT. 'The investigation is ongoing.'
Andrea Murray, one of the co-owners, said the restaurant will remain closed until it receives approval to reopen from the food inspector, county code enforcement and others. So, for now, that means the restaurant remains closed for both takeout and dining in.
No immediate timeline for reopening was available. But Murray said updates would be posted on their Facebook page, and they hoped to offer a tentative idea of their reopening later Tuesday.
'Right now, we're just worried about cleaning up,' Murray added.
According to Murray, worried customers have been calling the business since 6 a.m. — and Murray has been dilligently answering the phone to respond to whatever questions she can. She said longtime customers have been stopping throughout the day to check on the business, and that's meant a lot.
'Everyone's been reaching out, and we all appreciate everyone asking if we're all right,' Murray said. 'Definitely makes it feel like Bonfire's a family. And I really appreciate my Bonfire family.'
Updates to the status of Bonfire Old Fashioned BBQ (2609 E. College Ave.) can be found at
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