"I’m devastated and it's almost a shock, I don't know that it's set in yet,” said Cook.
Nadine Cook, owner of Churchills Food and Spirits Restaurant in Flint visibly distraught after she almost lost her business Tuesday afternoon.
Around 3 p.m. Flint firefighters responded to a fire in the 300 block of South Saginaw Street.
A portion of the street was blocked off to traffic.
Firefighters were able to contain the blaze after 20 minutes.
“They were cooking inside of the kitchen, area had something that went inside the vent system and the exhaust system that they have did in fact deploy but they managed to get past it,” said Williams.
Although no outside damage was done to the building Assistant Fire Chief Deandre Williams says the fire still took its toll.
"They had and this was two fires, one was up towards the roof area where it extended to and that was addressed and also they had a main fire in the kitchen area, they've got some fairly extensive damage in the kitchen area," Williams said.
A full investigation into the exact cause of the fire is underway. But the damages done will cause the restaurant to be closed for an extended amount of time.
"We have a party scheduled for tomorrow night but we have no food for New Year's Day, I don't know if were going to be able to accommodate them," Cook said.
"Knowing that this is the new year and the businesses are all gearing up to try to get revelers and party goers here it's kind of unfortunate, but considering the fact that their will be other New Years and the building will still be around is a good thing," said Williams.
At the time the blaze started no customers were in the restaurant, just five employees.
All people inside the restaurant at the time of the fire got out safely.
The restaurant is expected to be closed for several weeks.
Churchill's Food & Spirits, a popular restaurant at 340 S. Saginaw St. in downtown Flint, had a fire in the kitchen Wednesday afternoon. Watch the scene from our Flint tower cam.
Firefighters arrived at the scene for a kitchen fire that caused extensive damage. Come back to www.connectmidmichigan.com for more information and watch NBC25 News at 6 and 11 p.m. for details.
