A historic Krispy Kreme Donuts store in Atlanta, owned by basketball star Shaquille O’Neal, which dates back to the mid-1960s, was engulfed in flames on Wednesday morning, seriously damaging the structure.
Atlanta fire teams responded to the iconic restaurant on Avenida Ponce de Leon shortly after midnight. The video posted on social media showed violent flames.
The store opened in 1965 and O’Neal bought it in 2016.
Midtown Krispy Kreme was one of the first locations established outside the company’s main bases of operations 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 Atlanta churches.
A historic Krispy Kreme store in downtown Atlanta, owned by Shaquille O’Neal, was destroyed by fire on Wednesday morning
Firefighters extinguish a fire at the Krispy Kreme Donuts store on Wednesday
Two employees were still inside the store at the time, but managed to escape unscathed and no one was injured in the fire
The front entrance to a burnt out Krispy Kreme Donuts store will be seen in Atlanta on Wednesday
The interior of a burnt-out Krispy Kreme Donuts store was seen in Atlanta. Some unsold donuts are seen on the left
Soot appears at the bottom of the roof of the Krispy Kreme Donuts store
The entrance to a Krispy Kreme donut shop on Avenida Ponce De Leon that caught fire on Wednesday morning
An Atlanta Fire Department worker removes a portion of a damaged wall outside a Krispy Kreme donut shop on Ponce De Leon Avenue, which caught fire on Wednesday morning
The store was built in 1965 and for years it is a landmark. The NBA Hall of Fame Shaquille O’Neal became the store owner in 2016
Two employees were still inside the store at the time, but managed to escape unscathed and no one was injured in the fire.
“We will recover better than ever,” O’Neal said in a statement.
“We and our store partner, Shaquille O’Neal, are extremely grateful that no one was hurt and for the quick response and excellent work from the local firefighters and police departments,” said Jack Farmer, who represents Krispy Kreme.
“We are working with the authorities to assess the damage and we are not sure how long the store will be closed,” he added.
‘However, we plan to reopen the store as soon as possible! In the meantime, members of our Ponce team will continue to receive full payment as we identify and offer them roles at other Krispy Kreme stores in the area. ‘
Firefighters are photographed working at the scene of a moving fire at the Krispy Kreme Donuts store.
The fire started on Wednesday, but no one was injured in the fire
Firefighters leave the Krispy Kreme Donuts store, which is sure to leave a hole in the community after the fire
A fireman looks at the back of a burnt out Krispy Kreme Donuts store in Atlanta
A firefighter works inside the donut shop with unsold products on the shelves
Battalion chief Douglas Hatcher said firefighters saved most of the building after the fire broke out in the back. No injuries were reported.
Hatcher said the cause of the fire was under investigation.
“It won’t be open anytime soon,” the fireman’s spokesman, the sergeant. Cortez Stafford told the Atlanta Journal Constitution. ‘I would say it is a total loss. The entire rear half is burned. ‘
Jasmine Rozier, a neighborhood resident, on the left, delivers Dunkin donuts to firefighters who put out a fire at the Krispy Kreme Donuts store.
People pass the famous Krispy Kreme Donuts store after the fast-moving fire
This historic site opened more than 60 years ago, but owner Shaquille O’Neal is determined to rebuild
A fire engine is images from outside the historic store, the front section of which looked unscathed
Atlanta Fire Department workers are photographed on the scene at Krispy Kreme donut shop
Maurice Sutton, a 20-year-old Krispy Kreme employee, looks out the window of the burning donut shop. ” My second home ” he says
Atlanta Fire Rescue firefighters examine the damage outside the historic Krispy Kreme store
An Atlanta Fire Rescue firefighter walks into the severely damaged store
Firefighters were at the fire site until morning, drowning out the flames
The interior of the store appears to be completely destroyed. It is not known what caused the fire
Atlanta Fire Department workers remove part of a damaged wall outside Krispy Kreme
Firefighters speak in front of a burned Krispy Kreme Donuts store in Atlanta on Wednesday
Soot can be seen on the white wooden balcony over the front door of the facility
Shaquille O’Neal bought the place in 2016. He is pictured here at one in Toronto, Canada
Fire-damaged donuts are visible through the drive-through window of the historic store
O’Neal says he hoped to be able to rebuild and repair the damage that was done