A fire tore through 2 Twelve Seasonal Kitchen + Bar in downtown Mebane Friday night, damaging the restaurant and leaving it closed indefinitely as its owners vow to rebuild. The restaurant was empty when the flames broke out, and no injuries were reported.
Fire crews were called to 212 W. Clay St. around 10:18 p.m. Friday and had the blaze under control by 10:41 p.m., according to dailydispatch.com. Mebane Fire Chief John Welons said smoke was seen billowing from the restaurant's roof and the fire was located in the kitchen area; its exact starting point remains unclear. The Mebane, Haw River and Efland Volunteer fire departments responded, the report said.
An employee at a nearby business made the emergency call after a patron reported seeing smoke above the restaurant, according to News of Orange. The fire caused extensive structural and smoke damage. Neighboring Napa Auto Parts and Walker Insurance Agency sustained no fire or water damage, fire officials said.
Owners Say Fire Started in the Kitchen
In a Facebook post, the restaurant's owners said the fire started in the kitchen and announced that 2 Twelve would remain closed until it could be fully restored, according to News of Orange. They thanked the community for the prayers, messages, calls and support. Authorities have not determined the cause of the fire.
An explainer from anniedance.substack.com says investigators rely on physical evidence when examining a fire. News of Orange reported that its reporters were unable to reach the owners for further comment or details on the investigation's progress.
A Downtown Gathering Place
2 Twelve Seasonal Kitchen + Bar opened in November 2019 at 212 W. Clay St., in a space that previously housed Mebane Knights Wine Bar. The restaurant built a following for American fare and scratch-made Southern comfort food alongside craft cocktails, and its owners have described it as a community gathering place. The restaurant's Facebook page describes its offering as Southern comfort food and a full bar.
The restaurant has weathered another setback: In September 2024, it briefly closed after a pipe burst beneath the kitchen, causing damage that required replacing the subfloor and flooring, according to News of Orange. For now, its downtown doors remain shut as the community waits to learn how long the latest rebuild will take.
Downtown designation and rebuilding permits
The North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office’s National Register nomination describes the Mebane Commercial Historic District as generally bounded by portions of N. Third Street, E. Center Street, N. Fourth Street and W. Clay Street. That information does not establish whether 2 Twelve’s building is within the district or its age. The City of Mebane says building permits are issued after applicable applications, documents and fees are received and reviewed by the Planning, Inspections and/or Fire departments. The city’s page does not indicate whether 2 Twelve has applied, and it does not identify business-recovery assistance for the restaurant.
