The Poky Dot, an iconic local business, is reeling from a devastating fire early Friday.
According to Marion County 911, the call for the fire came in at 5:03 a.m. Friday. Alyssa Caputo, operator of the business, said it “appears to be electrical.”
“We were having renovations done,” Caputo said. “In the area where the renovations were being done, there was believed to be (an) electrical fire.”
Caputo said the fire was in the back area of the restaurant, which experienced the brunt of the damage, which she described as “extensive.”
“The back is...terrible,” she said, her voice choked with emotion. “The rest of the restaurant has heavy extensive smoke (damage).”
She said the state fire marshal is in the midst of investigating the cause, and once that is complete, commercial cleaners will be brought in to get things back in shape.
She said the fire has been “total devastation” for her personally, but she said it’s also been heartbreaking for the many employees.