SCHROON LAKE – The Sticks and Stones Wood Fired Bistro and Bar was destroyed by a fast-moving fire early Saturday morning in Schroon Lake.
The fire was reported at about 4:10 a.m. at 739 Route 9, Schroon Lake, and reduced the wood-frame building to a burned-out shell.
Schroon Lake firefighters got mutual aid from North Hudson, Chilson, Ticonderoga, Horicon, Minerva, Chestertown and Pottersville fire departments.
It took several hours to bring the fire under control, and Route 9 at the fire scene was closed until 9 a.m. Saturday. Traffic was detoured around on adjoining roads.
The restaurant was owned by Steve Holmes and Gary Tromblee of Schroon Lake. The building was assessed for $262,000, according to the Essex County property tax website.
The restaurant opened May 24, 2013, and featured pizza made in a wood-fired brick oven from the famed Italian manufacturer the Marra Forni company.
The restaurant had closed at 10 p.m. the night before.
Steve Holmes’ daughter, Mikaela Holmes, wrote on social media that the family was grateful for the love and concern expressed by people toward them after the fire.
“Thankfully no one was hurt,” she wrote. “Very devastated but so grateful that everyone is safe.”
The owners released a statement that said, “We are heartbroken that we had a horrible fire in the early hours of the morning. The structural damage was devastating, so unfortunately, this means we will remain closed for the foreseeable future. Please keep our employees in your thoughts.”
They added that a GoFundMe account will be created sometime this week to help employees at the bistro.
Schroon Lake Fire Department released a statement on the fire.
“Schroon Lake Fire and EMS were dispatched to a reported structure fire at the Sticks and Stones Wood Fired Bistro and Bar (and) arriving units confirmed a working fire in the corner of the structure,” it said. “Numerous apparatus and tankers were called to the scene. As the fire spread, tankers, apparatus and manpower responded from both Essex and Warren counties to combat the flames in frigid temperatures. The cause of the fire is under investigation at this time.”
The Essex County Fire Investigation Unit was at the site Saturday to probe the cause of the blaze.