Townsend community saddened by loss of Little River BBQ in fire

TOWNSEND, Tenn. (WATE) — Known for their food and rich history in the area, a local restaurant in Townsend burned down Sunday morning , leaving the community saddened and the owners picking up the pieces.

“When I learned that it had burned it broke my heart,” said the mother of a previous owner, Joyce Davis.

The fire broke out shortly after 5 a.m. Sunday morning. The building that held Little River BBQ was deemed a total loss.

“The building was pretty much fully involved at that time. We realized that we’re probably had a partial collapse on the roof. We were preparing for a full collapse on the roof. But also, we had a propane tank on one side and a nearby structure on the other that we needed to protect.” said Townsend Area Volunteer Fire Department Chief Don Stallions.

Little River BBQ owner Terry Haley said they were grateful for the fire department, as they saved the adjacent building which held all their records.

Chief Stallions said it was a tough fight to do so.

“The team overall did a great job,” he said. “But that’s a hard fight when you’re in between two buildings like that magnifies the heat. There’s nowhere really where you can self-rescue. So it’s a hard fight and they put up a good fight and saved structure.”

Haley said he was devastated when he got the call. However, he does hope to rebuild. He said seeing the flames nearly brought him to tears, something Davis could relate to.

Davis said before Little River BBQ, there was Country Haven on the River, a restaurant her daughter owned.

“We had so much fun family on it, with us, that we just had such a — we had a ball in there. My husband would wash dishes, then he’d go stir a pot of something on the stove. So we just had a good time, it was good memories, and I wish they were back,” she said.

Davis noted how her daughter got married just behind the restaurant in front of the river that runs behind it. Just like Little River BBQ, her daughter’s business was a family affair.

“It’s had so many people, different people in it, you know, in and out. But it’s gone and we can’t do anything about it, but it bothers me a lot,” said Davis.

The cause of the fire is still undetermined.

Haley told 6 News he had just signed a ten-year lease for the property earlier this year. While he does hope to rebuild, he says it may be in a smaller structure.

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