ATLANTA (AP) – A historic Krispy Kreme Donuts store in Atlanta owned by basketball star Shaquille O’Neal dating back to the mid-1960s was engulfed in flames in early Wednesday and severely damaged the structure.
Atlanta firefighters responded to the iconic Ponce de Leon Avenue restaurant shortly after midnight, media reports. The video posted on social media showed furious flames.
The Midtown store opened in 1965 and O’Neal bought it in 2016, media reports.
“I hope no one has been injured and that we are recovering better than ever,” O’Neal said in a statement.
“We and our store partner, Shaquille O’Neal, are very grateful that no one was injured and for the prompt response and outstanding work of local fire and police departments,” said Jack Farmer, who represents Krispy Cream.
“We are working with the authorities to assess the damage and at this time we do not know how long the store will be closed,” he added. “However, we plan to reopen the store as soon as possible! In the meantime, members of Ponce’s team will continue to receive their full salary as we identify and offer them functions at other stores in the Krispy Kreme area. ”
Battalion Chief Douglas Hatcher said firefighters saved most of the building after the fire started in the back. No injuries were reported. Hatcher said the cause of the fire was being investigated.
The Midtown Krispy Kreme was one of the first locations established outside the company’s main operating bases in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and Nashville, Tennessee.
After the funeral of Martin Luther King Jr. in April 1968, the Krispy Kreme fed the bad guys by donating 150 dozen donuts to Atlanta churches.
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An earlier version of this story incorrectly said that the store was over 60 years old. It was inaugurated in 1965.