Charlie’s Diner thankful for community support following devastating fire

WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – A longtime local business went up in flames in West Springfield Tuesday afternoon, leaving the community in disbelief and employees left to pick up the pieces.

Tuesday’s fire ravaged Charlie’s Diner, leaving the popular hangout spot covered in wooden boards and burn scars.

“I could see the smoke and I could see out the firemen and the policemen. So I turned around, came back through, and that’s when I noticed all the billowing smoke. And we ran in the house, got my husband said, ‘Hey, Charlie’s is burning down!’,” resident Kimberlyn Meyer recalled.

When firefighters arrived Tuesday afternoon, they could see flames coming from the restaurant’s windows. West Springfield Fire Lt. Tony Spear told 22News, “There was heavy fire on arrival and from there crews just kept coming in. Basically the entire establishment was fully involved at what point or another.”

The Union Street diner is now unrecognizable after the fire destroyed everything in its path in a matter of minutes, leaving paneling charred and signage destroyed.

Lt. Tony Spear told 22News says the diner is a total loss but luckily no one was hurt.

In the aftermath of the fire, Charlie’s Diner took to Facebook to relay their gratitude saying in part quote:

It is a sad night! We will miss our family of customers and staff dearly. The nostalgia of Charlie’s will be irreplaceable but the memories will always be with us. We will try hard to make a return.

Charlie’s Diner, Facebook page

Residents echoing those sentiments in the hopes that Charlie’s can make a triumphant return one day soon.

At this time the cause of the fire is unknown. The fire investigations unit is actively working and should have answers in the coming days or weeks.

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