Downtown
Richmond institution The Tobacco Company closed after weekend fire
No injuries were reported in the three-alarm fire, which broke out Saturday morning around 10:00 AM.
The Tobacco Company for many is Shockoe Slip. Jearald Cable opened the restaurant 40 years ago and it has been a cornerstone of Richmond dinners and brunch ever since.
Saturday morning around 10:00 AM, a fire broke out in the restaurant’s kitchen. It took 12 fire crews from the Richmond and Henrico County departments about two hours to get the blaze under control. The fire was later declared a three-alarm incident, largely due to the hot temperatures, and the RTD reported one person was taken to the hospital after suffering from smoke inhalation.
The Tobacco Company, at this point, doesn’t have a clear idea of how long the restaurant will be closed and released the following statement on Facebook:
We are saddened to report that the restaurant and club will be closed until further notice due to a building fire. We are thankful that no one was seriously injured. We will do our best to contact and redirect any guests who have reservations in the coming weeks.
The fire is still under investigation and no cause has been determined. We’ll continue to follow this story as new details emerge.
More photos by Dave Parrish are available in his album on Facebook.
