Not only is the sentimental value lost, but 35 employees are now out of work.

"That's my livelihood right there," said Jason Torres as he stood outside the restaurant staring at the hanging roof and blackened walls. "(The employees) were all close. We spent most of our time here rather than we actually did at home. I don't know with the economy the way it is, it's kind of hard to find a job."

Tzakis said he would do his best to try and relocate as many employees as he could to some of his other restaurants.

"I've had a fantastic crew. This has been my best crew ever, here," he said.

A total of 74 firefighters needed about an hour to extinguish the main part of the fire and another 90 minutes to put out any hot spots, Scharman said. Redwood Road between 7000 South to 7800 South was shut down for a few hours early Thursday.

The cause of the fire had not been determined Thursday morning. But Scharman said it did not appear to be suspicious. Surveillance video from inside the restaurant was being reviewed to see if it could provide any more clues into the fire's origin, he said. The fire did not start in the kitchen area.

Whether Tzakis rebuilds the restaurant will be determined mostly by the insurance company, he said while acknowledging the damage was severe.

"Inside, it's a sun room right now. There's no ceiling."

E-mail: preavy@desnews.com