Miami Fire Costs Barton G. Millions

When people dread Mondays, they probably don’t have to deal with the kind of headaches the famous restaurateur and event planner Barton G. had this past Monday at his warehouse in Miami.

A devastating fire broke out destroying millions of dollars worth of supplies such as linens, specially-made furniture, tableware, and a commercial washer. The warehouse is located at 400 NE 67 St. in Miami’s Upper Eastside neighborhood and it took almost two hours for 60 firemen to contain the blaze.

Barton G. is said to have told fire officials that his “last employee left the warehouse around 7:30 p.m. Seventy minutes later, the place was engulfed in heavy flames, and then the roof collapsed.” In an interesting PR twist, Barton G. has confirmed that he will move forward with plans to open Prelude this Friday at Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Miami. He adds, “I was actually driving from Prelude back home. I was going down I-95 and I saw these flames and this big barrel of smoke and I couldn’t figure out what it was and literally two minutes later, I got a phone call that my warehouse was on fire.”

Investigators from the City of Miami’s fire department, the state Fire Marshall’s office, and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms spent most of Tuesday at the scene. “We’re looking into everything from foul play, to disgruntled employees, to even something accidental,” said Miami Fire-Rescue spokesman Ignatius Carroll.

Barton G. is moving forward however, and he notes, “It’s like show business; go on, keep going, don’t stop, and don’t look back. It’s unfortunate, but the show must go on.”

No one was inside the warehouse at the time of the fire.

Via: Miami Herald, Miami New Times, CBS4