According to a Facebook post from the City of New Smyrna Beach Fire Department, a beloved central Florida restaurant set to appear in an upcoming Brad Pitt movie went up in flames overnight on Monday, March 18, 2024.
The city fire department confirmed they were working on the structure fire at Pappas Drive-In & Family Restaurant at 1103 North Dixie Freeway. Just after 1 a.m., the department posted a photo of the smoke-filled building. “Working structure fire at Pappa’s on US1. NSBFD and VCFR units still on scene,” the post said. “More to come.”
According to a statement from the NSBFD, the fire broke out in the attic around midnight. Hence, the structure was a total loss. “It’s a neighborhood staple. In the New Smyrna Beach area, everybody knows Pappas Drive-In restaurant,” New Smyrna Beach Fire Lieutenant Adam Sarwi said.
“It’s a common place for everybody to come around and hang out.” Sarwi added, “It has a lot of history to it. It’s one of the oldest drive-in restaurants around.” The lieutenant further noted that the restaurant played host to movie stars months before the tragic fire.
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“And that movie that was just filmed here a couple weeks ago, a couple months ago,” Sarwi added. “A lot of history here, so it’s gonna be a lot of broken hearts for missing a neighborhood staple.” According to sources, Sarwi referred to an upcoming untitled Apple Original film about Formula 1 racing.
The film is reportedly from the team that put together “Top Gun: Maverick.” It will also feature 60-year-old Academy Award-winning actor Brad Pitt, who was in New Smyrna Beach in January filming the movie. While details about the movie are still unknown, reposts say its release is for next summer.
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While speaking about the damages done, Sarwi noted that no one was on the premises when the fire started. Therefore, there were no injuries or casualties. Also, the fire did not cause damage to nearby structures and buildings. However, the cause of the fire remains a mystery.
Restaurant owner Vic Ganoe told authorities he got a call from the alarm company around midnight. The company told him there was smoke in the kitchen. “I came up here, and it was on fire,” he said. NSBFD Fire Chief Shawn VanDemark said, “We found the majority of the fire toward the rear attic space.”
“The age of the building and the construction type make it more difficult to put the fire out,” VanDemark added. Due to this, the department called in the state’s fire marshal to assist in the investigation. While the tragic fire accident is under investigation, residents expressed concerns about the historic restaurant’s reopening.
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However, Ganoe and former owner and founder Chris Pappas, who still owns the property, plan to work together to rebuild on the same spot. The two expressed readiness to bring the beloved restaurant back to life. “It’s a historic landmark in New Smyrna,” Ganoe noted.
According to its website, Pappas Drive-in & Family Restaurant opens seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.. Furthermore, the restaurant is famous for its “famous burgers and fried chicken since 1970.”
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