Beloved Gulf Shores Restaurant Shut Down By Fire Rebuilds

Managers of Bahama Bob's estimate that roughly 35 percent of the building was lost to the July blaze.

One month after Bahama Bob’s Beachside Cafe in Gulf Shores was shuttered by a fire, the landmark Alabama restaurant is poised for a comeback.

“We’re definitely coming back,” manager Whit Spellman told WKRG's Debbie Williams this week. “We’re still in the process of seeing how much damage. But as we’re digging out the mess it is looking better and better.”

Manager Tina Wesner noted that it's not the restaurant's first brush with disaster. “I’ve been through Ivan, and Katrina, but as my partner said, this is not something we are used to dealing with,” she said

Spellman and Wesner told Williams they estimate that 30 to 35 percent of the building suffered the most damage in the blaze.

It was around dinnertime on Sunday, July 16 when diners began seeing smoke fill the popular tourist spot.

"We were just eating and we started smelling smoke,” Beverly Cross, who was inside at the time, recalled to WVTM 13. “They started yelling 'Get out' and now it’s on fire. So sad. Everyone got out."

Staff rushed patrons out of the building. Cross watched the scene unfold from across the street. She told the local news outlet that it was only about seven minutes before flames were shooting from the restaurant.

Matt Mauller was on vacation with his wife and young children when their dinner was interrupted by smoke.

"We had just ordered food when we noticed smoke and in no time it was filled with smoke and the front of the building was in flames," Mauller told WVTM 13. "The staff at Bahama Bob's was top notch in getting everyone out of there quickly and safely and wait staff making sure all their tables made it out as the building was on fire."

Crews were able to put the fire out within 30 to 40 minutes after the restaurant was evacuated.

The local restaurant community stepped up big time in the aftermath of the fire, hiring all of Bahama Bob's 60 employees.

"When we open back up, you’ve got to give ’em back to us,” Wesner told Williams with a laugh.

That day is still a ways away though. “It’s going to be a minute but we’re working on it as fast as we can,” she added.

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