SAN ANTONIO – In a matter of minutes, some 40 years of history was damaged by the billows of smoke and flames that filled Chris Madrid's burger joint on Sunday.
Just 45 days into new ownership, Richard Peacock said he never expected he would have to deal with his business going up in flames. But, Peacock knows things could've been worse.
"This isn't exactly how we thought our Sunday was going to go like, but all in all we're counting our blessings," Peacock said.
READ THE ORIGINAL REPORT: 'Restaurant is in tact' after fire breaks out at Chris Madrid's burger joint
Peacock described the restaurant's normal Sunday closure as "fortuitous" because it meant customers were out of harms way.
The burger joint has been a go-to restaurant just north of Downtown for decades. Even San Antonio Fire Department personnel who responded to the blaze were admitted fans of the burgers.
"Who isn't a fan of Chris Madrid's?" SAFD spokesperson Woody Woodward said after the fire. "It's kind of a sad day, but it looks like the restaurant is in tact and it appears that the damage is not as significant as it could have been."
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Peacock said the restaurant has 40 dedicated employees -- some who showed up on their day off to offer support.
Following protocol, arson is investigating, but still no word on what led to the flames.
Officials haven't yet said how much the damages total, but Peacock said they plan to open up as soon as possible and make Chris Madrid's even better than before.
