An iconic barbecue restaurant in Shelby, North Carolina, suffered a fire Thursday night causing it to close "until further notice". Red Bridges BBQ Lodge, a local culinary landmark, has been serving its community with award-winning barbecue since 1946. According to WBTV, the blaze was contained internally within a firewall, safeguarding the rest of the establishment from more extensive damage.
Shelby's Fire & Rescue team was dispatched to tackle the fire after it had sparked just shortly after 8:30 p.m. at the Lodge, located on Highway 74. Officials have yet to explicitly state the source of the fire or to confirm any injuries related to the incident. In recounting the events, WCNC estimated damages to be around $30,000 and mentioned that the fire took firefighters about 15 minutes to bring under control.
WSOCTV captured sentiments from Natalie Ramsey, granddaughter of the restaurant’s founders, Red and Lyttle Bridges, who expressed immense gratitude for the community's outreach, stating, "We've had so many people just reach out to us and see this and are like 'What can we do to help you'. We’re just so thankful for great customers, employees, and friends. We’re truly blessed." Ramsey also alluded to the possibility of the restaurant opening its doors again by next Wednesday.
Red Bridges BBQ Lodge has a strong legacy in North Carolina's culinary scene, frequently appearing on "Best Of" lists from publications like USA Today and Southern Living. The community-focused restaurant reassured patrons via social media, stating, "If you have any orders with us, we will reach out once we're able to safely resume operations." This reflects the Lodge's commitment to returning as a top destination for barbecue lovers, a statement obtained by WBTV.
