A historic Krispy Kreme Donuts store in Atlanta owned by basketball player Shaquille O’Neal, dating from the mid-1960s, was engulfed in flames early Wednesday and severely damaged the structure.
Atlanta firefighters responded to the iconic restaurant in Ponce de Leon Avenue shortly after midnight. Video posted on social media showed raging flames.
The store opened in 1965 and O´Neal bought it in 2016.
The Midtown Krispy Kreme was one of the first establishments outside the company’s headquarters in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and Nashville, Tennessee.
After the funeral of Martin Luther King Jr. in April 1968, the Krispy Kreme fed mourners by donating 150 dozen donuts to Atlanta churches.
A historic Atlanta-owned Krispy Kreme store owned by Shaquille O’Neal was destroyed by fire early Wednesday.
Firefighters extinguish a fire at the crispy Kreme Donuts store on Wednesday
Two employees were still in the store at the time, but were able to escape unharmed and no one was injured in the fire.
The front entrance to a burnt-out Krispy Kreme Donuts store seen in Atlanta on Wednesday
The inside of a burnt Krispy Kreme Donuts store, seen in Atlanta. Some unsold donuts are seen on the left
Soot appears on the bottom of the roof of the Krispy Kreme Donuts store
The front entrance of a Krispy Kreme donut shop on Ponce De Leon Ave that caught fire early Wednesday morning
An Atlanta firefighter removes part of a damaged wall outside a Krispy Kreme donut shop in Ponce De Leon Avenue that caught fire early Wednesday morning.
The store was built in 1965 and has stood as a beacon for years. Shaquille O’Neal, the NBA Hall of Fame, became the owner of the store in 2016
Two employees were still in the store at the time, but they were able to escape unharmed and no one was injured in the fire.
“We will bounce back better than ever,” O’Neal said in a statement.
“We and our store partner, Shaquille O’Neal, are very grateful that no one was injured and for the prompt response and excellent work of the local fire and police departments,” said Jack Farmer, who represents Krispy Kreme.
“We are working with authorities to assess the damage and are at this stage uncertain about how long the store will be closed,” he added.
‘However, we plan to reopen the store as soon as possible! Meanwhile, our Ponce team members will continue to receive full pay while we identify and offer their roles in other Krispy Kreme stores. ‘
Firefighters work at the scene of a fast-moving fire in the crispy Kreme Donuts store
The fire started on Wednesday, but no one was injured in the fire.
Firefighters are leaving the historic Krispy Kreme Donuts store, which will definitely leave a hole in the community following the fire
A firefighter looks at the back of a burnt-out Krispy Kreme Donuts store in Atlanta
A firefighter works inside the donut shop with unsold products still lying on the shelves
Battalion Chief Douglas Hatcher said firefighters rescued most of the building after the fire started in the back. No injuries were reported.
Hatcher said the cause of the fire is being investigated.
“It will not be open any time soon,” said fire spokesman Sergeant. Cortez Stafford told the Atlanta Journal Constitution. ‘I would say it’s a total loss. The entire back half was burned. ‘
Resident Jasmine Rozier, left, delivers Dunkin donuts to firefighters who put out a fire in the crispy Kreme Donuts store.
People walk past the historic Krispy Kreme Donuts store to the fast-moving fire
This historic site opened more than 60 years ago, but owner Shaquille O’Neal is determined to rebuild
A fire truck is a photo outside the historic store whose front section looked unharmed
Atlanta firefighters are pictured at the scene in the Krispy Kreme donut shop
Maurice Sutton, a 20-year-old Krispy Kreme employee, looks inside a window in the burnt-out donut shop. “My second home,” he says
Atlanta Fire Rescue firefighters investigate damage outside historic Krispy Kreme store
An Atlanta firefighter, firefighter, steps inside the badly damaged store
Firefighters were at the fire scene until the morning and extinguished the flames.
The inside of the store looks completely cluttered. It does not know what caused the fire
Atlanta firefighters remove part of a damaged wall outside Krispy Kreme
Firefighters speak in front of a burned-out Krispy Kreme Donuts store in Atlanta on Wednesday
Soot can be seen on the white wooden veranda over the front door to the premises
Shaquille O’Neal bought the location in 2016. He is pictured here on one in Toronto, Canada.
Fire-damaged donuts are visible through the door window of the historic store
O’Neal says he hoped he could rebuild and repair the damage done.