A landmark Krispy Kreme store in Atlanta owned by Shaquille O’Neal was hit by a fire early Wednesday morning.
Shortly after midnight, the basketball Hall of Famer posted a video of the store engulfed in flames with the caption “we will be stronger than ever”.
Local newspapers reported other corners of the burning building.
Cause of fire remains unknown
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that two employees were running through the store, but that they were able to escape safely after seeing wires smoking. The cause of the fire is still being investigated. No injuries were reported.
Douglas Hatcher of the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department told the Associated Press that the fire started in the back of the store. Photos show that the exterior of the building escaped significant damage, although investigators told AJC that it was likely ‘totally destroyed’.
Shaquille O’Neal promised ‘we will be back’ after a fire tore through his Atlanta Krispy Kreme. (AP Photo / Ron Harris)
“It’s not going to be open anytime soon,” Fire Department spokesman Sgt. Cortez Stafford told AJC. ‘I would say it’s a total loss. The entire back half was burned. ”
The historic roots of the Krispy Kreme place
The Midtown Krispy Kreme location opened in 1965 as part of the expansion of the iconic southern illumination of its North Carolina roots. It is understood that 150 dozen donuts were donated to churches to help the swarms of mourners who attended the 1968 funeral procession for dr. Martin Luther King took part, to feed, as most restaurants in the city were closed that Tuesday morning.
O’Neal bought the store in 2016 and became a global spokesman for the company.
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