The Eat 'n Park restaurant in Monongahela will reopen Wednesday after a fire late Monday damaged the entrace and caused smoke damage to the interior.
Monongahela Fire Chief Frank Hnatik said the fire began at 11:15 p.m. He believes a cigarette butt tossed into mulch outside the entrance caught fire and spread to a column.
Patrons and employees inside the 24-hour restaurant at 1250 W. Main St. were safely evacuated. Firefighters from New Eagle and Carroll Township also assisted.
Bill Moore, director of safety and security for Eat 'n Park, said Tuesday that the restaurant will open Wednesday morning using an emergency exit as a temporary entrance until repairs are completed. That should occur by Thursday.
A December 1996 fire gutted the restaurant, which was rebuilt.