ATLANTA (AP) – A historic Krispy Kreme Donuts store in Atlanta, owned by basketball star Shaquille O’Neal, dating from the mid-1960s, was engulfed in flames on Wednesday morning, severely damaging the structure .
Atlanta fire crews responded to the iconic restaurant on Avenida Ponce de Leon shortly after midnight, the media reported. The video posted on social media showed violent flames.
The Midtown store opened in 1965 and O’Neal bought it in 2016, the media reported.
“I hope no one has been hurt and we can 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. “
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.
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.
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An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that the store was over 60 years old. It was opened in 1965.