Fire has caused extensive damage at Thai Basil restaurant in Danielson on Friday morning.
The roof at the North Street restaurant collapsed and officials said the building is likely a total loss.
No one was hurt, officials said.
Owners of Thai Basil, Richard Lin and Meilin Liu, said that they were notified of the fire when their security alarm went off around 1:30 Friday morning.
The fire marshal for the Town of Killingly, Randy Burchard, said that the cause of the fire is under investigation. He does not suspect anything criminal.
The owners said that they were at a loss for words Friday. The couple opened the restaurant about five years ago, said Lin.
“It breaks my heart,” said Lin.
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“I feel sad,” added his wife, Liu. “I feel like I lose my business, lose everything.”
Lin and Liu said that they will wait to hear from their insurance company to determine next steps.
In the meantime, some of their regular customers showed up to the restaurant Friday to show support. The people said that after dining at Thai Basil for the last several years, Lin and Liu are their friends.
“And I don’t like to see my friends in trouble. I want to help them out as best I can,” said Karen Savoie, from Brooklyn.
Thai Basil was already operating in tough circumstances, having to close for two months during the pandemic. Liu said that they have been doing really well with takeout orders for the last two months and they just opened outdoor dining in their parking lot.
“And then this happens,” said Savoie. “It is just sad.”
The group of friends is hoping to help the couple rebuild.
