Benton business damaged by early morning fire

BENTON, Mo. -- The Corner Bar and Grill has been a gathering point for Benton residents for decades. After an early Monday morning fire, though, the future of the business is uncertain.

The outside appearance of the bar and grill belies the fact there was a fire, other than the yellow caution tape across the front.

Despite the relatively undamaged exterior, Benton fire chief Howard Bollinger said the business is a total loss. The interior smoke and fire damage was extreme.

"I don't know that you will ever get that smell out of it," said Bollinger.

Firefighters responded to a call of a fire at the business, located in downtown Benton, at about 1:10 a.m. The Benton Fire Department was assisted by the NBC Fire Protection District and the Oran Fire Department.

The fire was noticed by a passerby and no one was at the business at the time, said Bollinger.

The fire had to be put out from inside the building. It took two hours to extinguish. Bollinger said clues indicate the fire started in a trash can, possibly from a discarded, smoldering cigarette butt.

Bollinger, who owns Bollinger Automotive near the bar and grill, kept a watch on the structure from his shop Monday afternoon and had to put out a hot spot in the building at around 1 p.m.

The chief said the Corner Bar and Grill had been a part of Benton for decades and remembers the business from his childhood.

"It was a central meeting spot for a lot of after-hours social activities," said Bollinger.

The business was the only bar in town and drew locals in with specials like its 10-cent wings on Wednesdays. Owner Kay Workman was unavailable for comment.

The Corner Bar and Grill is the second business in Benton destroyed by fire in less than a month, said Bollinger. A few weeks ago Scherer Auto Repair burned in a fire caused by a fuel leak.

msanders@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182