Fire damaged several Silver Spring restaurants

WASHINGTON — Cleanup has started after a fire ripped through four restaurants in Silver Spring early Thursday, causing about $750,000 in damage.

The fire, believed to be electrical in nature, gutted the Bombay Gaylord Fine Indian Cuisine restaurant at 8401 Georgia Avenue.

“First arriving firefighters did encounter some very heavy fire conditions,” said Pete Piringer, spokesman for Montgomery County Fire and Rescue.

“About one hundred firefighters responded to the scene. One firefighter did receive a minor burn injury to his hand,” he said.

Mandarin Restaurant, Quarry House Tavern and a nearby cafe were also damaged.

About a dozen residents were displaced. They were living above one of the restaurants, which is likely a code violation, according to the fire department.

The fire investigation is ongoing.

Quarry House Tavern owner Jackie Greenbaum walked through her business to survey the damage later Thursday morning. The decades-old bar has had a liquor license since the early 1930s.

“You just can’t build bars like that anymore,” Greenbaum says. “There’s not a lot of fire damage, but there is a lot of water damage and smoke damage.”

Greenbaum is not sure how long repairs will take, but she vows to eventually reopen the bar’s legendary doors.

“We will be able to open up again for sure.”

WTOP’s Nick Iannelli contributed to this report from Silver Spring.