Lou Malnati's in Arcadia assessing damage after a late-night fire

PHOENIX — Lou Malnati's Pizza in Arcadia would likely remain closed Thursday after a small fire sparked inside one of the walls late Wednesday, the pizzeria said.

The Phoenix Fire Department was dispatched to the pizzeria near 56th Street and Indian School Road after receiving reports of smoke coming from the roof of the building.

Captain Todd Keller, a public information officer with the Phoenix Fire Department, said in an email that the fire was located in a wall near the back of the business. He said firefighters were able to quickly secure a water line and put out the fire, preventing it from spreading to the restaurant next door.

A short video was shared from the Phoenix Fire Department's Twitter account that showed a number of fire trucks and firefighters at the scene.

No injuries were reported, he said. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Natalie Levy, marketing manager for Lou Malnati's, said in an email on Thursday morning that there was a "fair amount of damage" to the business and that "we will likely
not open today (Thursday)."

"We're working around the clock to make repairs and will have more info when we assess the situation," she said.

That particular location handles pickup, takeout and delivery orders only. The teams at Lou Malnati's Phoenix and Scottsdale restaurants are trying to serve customers in Arcadia in the meantime, she said.

Vecina, a modern American and Latin-inspired restaurant, is located next door and shares the building with Lou Malnati's.

Owner Raenee Fox said Thursday morning that there was no fire or damage to their restaurant and that they were still assessing the impact from the smoke. She said updates would be posted to their social media.

Thursday afternoon, a post on Vecina PHX's Facebook page said the restaurant would remain closed Thursday due to "residual smoke" from the fire next door. They plan to reopen at 4 p.m. on Friday.