Sonny's BBQ in Bartow Destroyed by Fire; Community Vows to Rebuild

Devastating Fire at Sonny's BBQ

• 🔥 A significant fire completely destroyed the Sonny's BBQ restaurant in Bartow early Wednesday morning.
• 💔 The blaze left workers and customers in disbelief, with the building being a complete loss.

Community Impact and Employee Experience

• 💬 Shift manager Crystal Mosley, with 25 years at the company, described the restaurant as a "huge staple to this community".
• 🤝 The restaurant is known for supporting school and sporting events, and employees are showing strong solidarity.
• 🏠 Some employees will transition to another location in Winter Haven, while the city manager offers assistance and expedited rebuilding permits.

Fire Incident Details

• ⚠️ The fire started around 6:00 a.m. when the pitmaster noticed water leaking from the roof and the building suddenly caught fire.
• 🚒 Nearby roads were shut down for hours as firefighters battled the raging flames.
• 🚫 Fortunately, no one was hurt during the incident.

Investigation and Future Plans

• 🔍 The state fire marshal is investigating the cause of the fire.
• 💪 Despite the unfortunate situation, employees and the company express a commitment to rebuild and make the restaurant "better than ever".