Fire, smoke damage closes Pelican’s Reef restaurant, other businesses in Anderson Twp

ANDERSON TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WXIX) - Pelican’s Reef restaurant and several other businesses in the Oak Tree Centre off Beechmont Avenue will be closed for a while due to a fire that left smoke damage throughout much of the facility, according to the Anderson Fire Department.

Fire officials have asked Hamilton County’s health and building departments to inspect the building.

Beechmont Avenue was shut down in the area for 90 minutes after fire crews responded around 6 a.m. Friday. A passerby reported seeing smoke coming from the building.

A firefighter went to the hospital with a minor ankle injury during the response.

Multiple other fire agencies came to assist, including Cincinnati and Mariemont, according to the Anderson Fire Department.

Firefighters quickly knocked down the bulk of the blaze, which was contained in the kitchen and its exhaust system, Anderson fire officials said.

There is a good amount of smoke damage in the restaurant’s dining room and at the other businesses in the shopping center.

One of the businesses damaged was Gloss Salon, according to the salon’s Human Resource Operator Carol Sutto.

“I got a call at 6:30 a.m. from my daughter, who’s the owner, saying you won’t believe it, the salon is on fire,” said Sutto. “I said, ‘On fire on fire,’ and she said, ‘Yes, the restaurant next door, Pelican Reef, had a fire and it is affecting the salon as well.’”

The team at Gloss found out the smoke damage was so strong they would have to close their doors for the foreseeable future and replace most of their inventory, Sutto added.

It’s not clear how long the affected businesses will be closed.

See a spelling or grammar error in our story? Please click here to report it and include the headline of the story in your email.

Do you have a photo or video of a breaking news story? Send it to us here with a brief description.

Copyright 2023 WXIX. All rights reserved.