By MIKE KRAFCIK
6 News Reporter
KNOXVILLE (WATE) – A Fountain City deli won't reopen after a fire Sunday night did severe damage.
Investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the blaze at Nixon's Deli. It started in the deli and spread to the attic.
Fire officials say the manager of Nixon's had just closed for the evening at 9:00 and left the premises.
Firefighters were able to contain the fire and minimize the damage to some of the other businesses.
Now arson investigators were on-site Monday trying to determine where and how the fire started.
"They'll be digging through some of the rubble to try to determine where the fire started. Last night (Sunday), they conducted some of the interviews with some of the people that were on scene and they'll follow that up today (Monday)," said fire department spokesman Capt. D.J. Corcoran.
"I just came down to see what it looked like it in the daylight," said Bill Brooks, the former owner of the deli chain. His son, Matthew, currently owns the deli.
Brooks says he's not sure how the fire started. The deli didn't have a fryer or stove in its kitchen.
"We don't know anything. They haven't told us anything," Brooks said.
Employees of City Salon, located next to the deli, spent the day cleaning up. The salon only received minor damage.
"I was very surprised. It could have been a lot worse, and we were so fortunate, and the Lord was looking out for us," said salon manager Betty Etherton.
Built in 1976, Fountain Village Shopping Center contains several unoccupied stores. Some of the business owners say they've heard rumors that Chick-fil-A may be considering acquiring the property and knocking down the shopping center.
"We've heard that, and they're just going to knock this building down if Chick-fil-A doesn't take it. So we really don't know anything there either," said Etherton. In just a few weeks, City Salon will move into a new location.
"We've heard rumors but we've heard those for years. First it was Burger King, then Weigels, and Chick-fil-A," Brooks said.
6 News contacted the Knox County Register of Deeds Office Monday. Officials say there's no deed or records to show the shopping center will be bought or demolished.
Fire department officials say there's no timetable on how long it will take the arson investigators to complete their work.
The fire at Nixon's Deli did severe damage.
"I just came down to see what it looked like it in the daylight," said Bill Brooks, the former owner of the deli chain.
