This story just makes my stomach sink. A beloved Michigan deli and wine shop was set on fire earlier this week, and now, the police are saying it was arson.
I seriously can’t believe it. Late last year, a bar that I used to work at during college burned down, too, but it was quickly deemed an accidental kitchen fire. That was heartbreaking enough. I can only imagine if it were actual arson.
Detroit’s Mudgie’s Deli and Wine Shop was on fire early Thursday morning (March 10), and as mentioned, officials say it wasn’t by accident. The Detroit Fire Department is investigating the fire as an arson, Deputy Fire Commissioner Dave Fornell says. “Investigators have determined the fire was intentionally set on the exterior of the building,” Fornell told the Detroit Free Press.
Thankfully, according to Fornell, there wasn’t a lot of damage to the property. It took firefighters about an hour to put out the flames. “Luckily, one of the neighbors saw the fire, called us,” he tells the Free Press. “We were able to extinguish the fire with minimal damage to the outside. And there was a bit of damage inside, but that was minimal as well.”
Fornell added that the restaurant will probably be able to open again, but it will ultimately be up to the restaurant owners. Greg Mudge, who started the deli, passed away last year at age 46. He opened the business in 2008. Here’s hoping the restaurant owners are able to open again soon and get their lives back.