A fire broke out at Papouli’s Restaurant shortly after 3 p.m. Wednesday, moderately damaging a Greek-style establishment beloved by many people across the Ozarks.
“It’s kind of an icon,” said Eric Nielsen, public information officer for the Southern Stone County Fire Protection District. Nine of the district’s vehicles responded. Nielsen said fire crews from nearby Branson West were dispatched at 3:11 p.m. following a report from a bystander that flames and smoke were visible.
Nobody was inside Papouli’s when the fire started, Nielsen said.
Nielsen said a state fire marshal was on his way to examine the scene in hopes of determining the cause of the fire. By 5:30 p.m., crews appeared to have extinguished the blaze.
Bessie and Tom Haldoupis, owners of Papouli’s since 1986, were on scene.