Atlanta firefighters were called to a seafood restaurant with celebrity ties on Edgewood Avenue near downtown Atlanta to extinguish a grease fire Tuesday evening.
Firefighters responded to Esco Seafood, the newest restaurant opened by rapper Tauheed “2 Chainz” Epps and entrepreneur Mychel “Snoop” Dillard, where they found heavy smoke venting from the roof of the restaurant, Atlanta Fire and Rescue said.
The caller reported that a grease fire was actively spreading in the restaurant’s basement kitchen, Atlanta fire said. Despite heavy smoke and low visibility inside the kitchen, firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze without any injuries.
The kitchen fire is a setback for the restaurant, which has been open for less than a year after taking over the Edgewood Avenue space formerly occupied by Mother Bar and Kitchen, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution previously reported. It also brings further attention to Epps and Dillard, whose other restaurant and lounge ventures have made headlines in recent years.
Escobar Lounge and Tapas, opened by Epps and Dillard in 2016, was temporarily shut down in May 2020 by state law enforcement officers for violating emergency health and safety protocols temporarily enacted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the AJC reported. The business partners were then sued about a month later by the family of Pablo Escobar for trademark infringement for using the deceased Colombian drug lord’s image and likeness at the restaurant.
In October 2020, an employee was shot and killed outside Members Only, a lounge also owned by Epps and Dillard.
Despite those challenges, the pair opened Esco Seafood in December. Following Tuesday’s fire, it is not clear when the restaurant will reopen.
About the Author
Keep Reading
The Latest
Featured
