An Atlanta BBQ joint went up in smoke after a gas leak ignited an explosion, wiping out the 50-year soul-food staple PO Freddie's BBQ, according to FOX 5 Atlanta. The fire razed the southwest Atlanta institution Monday, leaving the community on Campbellton Road to absorb the blow, the restaurant was known not only for its smoky flavors but also for its charity in the local community.

Atlanta Fire Department officials reported that a construction team ruptured a gas line around 10 a.m. on Monday, with Atlanta News First detailing that an outside contractor had been installing underground fiber cables in the area when the damage to a 6-inch natural gas line occurred. The leak triggered evacuations of seven nearby buildings, an apartment complex included, and brought Campbellton Road to a standstill until it reopened Tuesday.

There were no reported injuries as the restaurant was empty during the time of the blaze, a slice of fortune amidst the havoc. Efforts to tame the fire continued into Tuesday morning with firefighters managing to extinguish remaining hot spots. Po Freddie's BBQ, owned by retired veteran Po Freddie Jones who had run the eatery for nearly half a century, is now a charred memory with Jones expressing uncertainty about the establishment's future in an interview with Atlanta News First.

The community has lost a gathering spot one local man, assisting in the clean-up efforts, reflected on the significance of the restaurant to the neighborhood, telling FOX 5, "The barbecue place is 100% part of the community. The brother does a lot of church work, veteran organization, PO Freddie’s a known person who has been in biz serving ATL a long time." Atlanta Gas Light has completed repairs on the compromised gas line, but the future steps for PO Freddie's BBQ remain in the smoke.

As the investigation into the cause of the explosion presses on, the storied walls of PO Freddie's BBQ stand silent, with the next steps for what has been a beacon of community service and sustenance hanging in the balance; there is currently no word on fundraising efforts, or if the restaurant will be rebuilt or relocated. The smoky aroma that once was a signature of Freddie's fellowship has dissipated into the Atlanta skyline, leaving both the owner and patrons pondering the fate of a place where meals and memories were once served up daily.