Shaquille O’Neal’s historic Atlanta Krispy Kreme fire

The fire is believed to have been intentionally caused outside the building and quickly spread inside, causing catastrophic damage, the Atlanta Rescue Department said on Friday in a statement.

Two workers were inside the building when the fire broke out just after midnight on February 10, but they managed to get out safely and call 911. The dining room was closed, so there were no customers inside.

Authorities are offering a reward of up to $ 10,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the arsonist.

“We are saddened by this news, but we remain grateful that no one was hurt,” said Krispy Kreme in a statement. “We continue to work with the authorities to assess the damage and we are not sure how long the store will be closed. But, as we stated earlier, we are determined to return better and more kindly than ever!”

Investigators released photos of a suspect, who they believe is a man wearing black clothes.

The Krispy Kreme on Ponce de Leon Avenue has been a beloved landmark in Midtown Atlanta for decades and its bright red sign was a beacon for hungry people at all hours of the day and night.

He reportedly supplied 150 dozen donuts in 1968 to churches feeding the thousands of mourners who attended Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s funeral procession.
O’Neal bought the place in 2016 and became a spokesperson for the donut franchise, CNN affiliate WXIA reported at the time.
In an Instagram post on the day of the fire, he wrote that “we will be back stronger than ever”.

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