Work is continuing in an effort

to reopen the Mrs. Winner's restaurant in Fayetteville after equipment

damage from a recent fire forced management to close temporarily.

According to Fayetteville Fire Chief Alan Jones, the fire took place shortly

before 6 a.m. Sept. 8. There were only a few employees and no customers

in the establishment at the time of the incident.

The blaze apprarently began in one of the fryers in the back of the restaurant,

Jones said. One of the burners, which the employees had been having some

problems with, ignited some grease in a pan, and the fire overcame the

restaurant's extinguishing system to reach into the vents and attic area.

Jones said the majority of the damage is to equipment, including one of

the air conditioning units. Management is working to get the store back

in shape to reopen as soon as possible, but the city will inspect it before

that happens, he added.

The parking lot is roped off to let potential customers know the restaurant

is closed.