Fire Destroys Historic Henry’s BBQ Building in Summerville; Heater Suspected as Cause

TWLN Staff Reporter | The Weekly Ledger News | Area News

SUMMERVILLE, Ga. — Fire crews battled an intense blaze Tuesday evening that destroyed Henry’s BBQ, a longtime and well-known restaurant located at 10757 Commerce Street in Summerville, Ga. Firefighters arrived to find the building fully engulfed, working aggressively to contain the flames and prevent the fire from spreading to nearby structures.

Summerville Police Chief and Public Safety Director Brian Ozment confirmed Tuesday night that the fire may have originated near a heater located in the front portion of the restaurant. According to Ozment, an employee was inside the building preparing for the next business day when she heard popping noises coming from the front of the establishment. When she went to investigate, the dining area was already filled with heavy smoke.

The fire broke out on the evening of Tuesday, January 20, and quickly intensified. At the time of the initial response, officials had not released a cause, stating that more information would become available as the investigation continued.

The structure has been a fixture in the Summerville community for more than six decades. Originally operating as Troy’s Drive In, the property was purchased by the Ballenger family in 1976 and later operated as a hamburger restaurant through several ownership transitions. In 1992, the Ballengers opened Ballenger’s Pizza Deli at the location before relocating the business to Gore.

Following the move, the building housed two different Mexican restaurants before becoming Henry’s BBQ. Owner Darlene Henry began renting the property more than 20 years ago and officially purchased it from the Ballenger family in 2019. Since then, Henry’s BBQ has remained a popular dining destination for residents throughout Summerville and Chattooga County.

Officials have not yet released information regarding the extent of the damage or whether the restaurant will be rebuilt. The investigation into the exact cause of the fire remains ongoing.

The Weekly Ledger News will continue to follow this developing story and provide updates as additional details are released.

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This report is based on information originally reported by WZQZ.

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