'Stronger than ever.' Monkey Bar & Grille reopens 1 month after fire causes serious damage
Quinlan Bentley
The Monkey Bar & Grille, a popular watering hole along the Little Miami River, reopened Saturday, exactly one month after a fire forced the bar and restaurant to temporarily shut its doors.
It opened its doors at 11 a.m. and will remain open until midnight Sunday, Operations Manager Joey Santos said in a news release. A reopening celebration is planned for 7 p.m.
"This place has so much history, including past fires, rebuilding, surviving Covid and we keep coming back stronger than ever," Santos said.
"This re-opening is only possible because of the hard work of our staff and the continued love and support from our local community during the entire process," he added.
The owners have said the kitchen area suffered serious damage as a result of the May 3 fire. The blaze caused smoke and water damage in other parts of the building as well.
No injuries were reported.
The building that houses the Monkey Bar & Grille is no stranger to fires.
It was first built in 1841 and during its previous iteration in the 1970s as the Train Stop Inn, the building caught fire twice, according to the bar and restaurant's website. It was rebuilt from brick, rock and concrete to avoid future fires.