Big E's BBQ owners to rebuild, reopen after fire

KENNETT, Mo. -- The owners of Big E's BBQ in Kennett hope to be back open for business within the next 30 days or so.

The restaurant caught fire shortly before 8 p.m. Friday. Eric and Lisa Story both were still at work when the fire erupted in the smokehouse, or pit area, at the rear of the building.

"I really don't know exactly how it started. I had just finished grilling some meat back there and stepped inside to put it on the counter. Before I knew it, I started hearing these loud, crackling sounds, and when I opened the door, it was just nothing but flames," Eric Story said. "I went through two fire extinguishers, trying to put it out, and I almost did. But the oxygen kept getting to it, and it went right up into the eaves."

Kennett firefighters were summoned at 7:55 p.m. Capt. Paul Spain said firefighters found flames rising from the back of the building. Firefighters remained at the scene until 11:30 p.m. battling the blaze, which destroyed the entire smokehouse, including Big E's six-foot Marrow Grill. The rest of the building sustained smoke and water damage.

Lisa's niece and a sister-in-law also were cleaning up from the day's business when the fire broke out. No one was injured.

Eric Story said he has been working with insurance adjusters by phone since the fire, gathering and sending photographs before starting cleanup. That's slated to begin today.

"I haven't been able to touch anything yet, but the whole place smells like smoke and will have to be scrubbed down from ceiling to floor," he said. "And, of course, we'll have to build a new smokehouse and clean the concrete. Plus, we lost the grill. But Ed Marrow said he's got another one just like it at his shop, and it has my name on it."

Story said he's optimistic about reopening as soon as possible. He also is thankful.

"We're just glad no one was hurt. And everything that's been destroyed can be replaced," he said. "The insurance guys have also been great to work with. In fact, Charlie Brown (of Baker Welman Brown Insurance) called me right away, from out of town, while I was still out in the parking lot talking to the firemen. I thought to myself, 'Now that's one heck of an insurance guy right there, to call me and get me in touch with the adjusters so quickly.'"