Greensburg Frozen Custard Shop Damaged By Fire
GREENSBURG (KDKA) - The owners of a popular frozen custard shop in Westmoreland County are cleaning up after a devastating fire inside their business late Monday night.
The fire started after 11 p.m. at The Meadows Original Frozen Custard shop on Mount Pleasant Street in Greensburg.
The store is something of a landmark in the neighborhood. It has taken care of its customers year round, but not on Tuesday.
"About 11:15, about a half hour after we left last night, I got a phone call from security basically saying that there is smoke in the structure, and our alarms went off," said owner Bob Deritio.
By the time fire crews rolled up to the scene, the popular place for frozen treats was on fire and filled with smoke.
"It was devastating till about 4 a.m.," said Deritio.
With the flames out and smoke cleared, the cause of the fire became clear.
"An electrical outlet caught fire. It had a short and destroyed the interior of the building," Deritio said. "It's devastating after being here for 12 years, and looking at it, you just can't recognize everything, the heat damage and the water damage."
But what's done is done; and for Deritio, he's focused on three things.
"Clean up, rebuild and reopen," he said.
Deritio says he's also very concerned for his employees; about a dozen are without a job for now. He says he's going to do everything he can to help them out.
"With a little luck, three months or so, we'll be back on our feet," he said.
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