ATLANTA — An iconic Atlanta restaurant was heavily damaged Wednesday morning when its roof partially fell in, according to the Atlanta Fire and Rescue Department.
Firefighters responded just before 4 a.m. after reports of a possible collapsed roof at Mary Mac's Tea Room.
When firefighters arrived, officials said they found a pole down on top of the restaurant, which partially collapsed the roof, and debris in the road.
The restaurant's owner was on the scene and spoke to 11Alive's Rarione Maniece, saying that they're currently trying to assess the integrity and safety of the building and determine what exactly happened with the collapse.
The collapse came amid heavy rains overnight and into Wednesday morning, and water could be seen flowing from the building.
A representative of Mary Mac's Tea Room sent 11Alive a statement on Thursday, saying the roof collapsed due to the heavy rains.
"Early Wednesday morning, the roof above the Skyline dining room of Mary Mac’s Tea Room collapsed due to heavy rains. We are incredibly grateful that no one was injured, and that the vast majority of our beloved restaurant was not impacted.
We are working to reopen as quickly as possible and are supporting our team members during this process. Our guests from Atlanta and beyond have supported Mary Mac’s Tea Room for more than 75 years, and we are dedicated to reopening and continuing Mary Mac’s legacy of southern food and hospitality for years to come.
The overwhelming support from our community is what is keeping us and our team moving forward, and we look forward to reopening our doors and serving the food that Atlanta’s Dining Room is known for as soon as possible."
Traffic was moving in both directions on Ponce De Leon Avenue in front of the restaurant after an early-morning closure to assess the scene. There was no immediate word when the area will be cleaned up.
Mary Mac's has been in operation on Ponce since 1945, becoming an Atlanta fixture for Southern food. It's often been recognized as one of the city's favorite restaurants and, in 2018, was named one of the best in the country by Travelers' Choice for everyday dining.
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