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Fire Strikes East Village's Otafuku, No Octopus Balls Today


By

Garth Johnston

Published Apr 29, 2011

Modified Apr 29, 2011


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The aftermath of the fire

 

Scoboco


By

Garth Johnston

Published Apr 29, 2011

Modified Apr 29, 2011


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If you were planning on getting some of the delicious fried octopus balls at Otafuku in the East Village today, you might want to reconsider. This morning, a little after 8 a.m., a fire broke out in the Ninth Street Japanese restaurant. Though the FDNY made quick work of it, the clean up at the Bon Yagi-owned spot may take a bit.

DNAinfo caught up with the restaurant's manager, Brian Sanchez, who tells them that the blaze started when one of the grills was left on overnight. By the time Sanchez arrived at 8 a.m. it had started to burn one of the wooden partitions and a support beam. The majority of the fire was put out with an extinguisher, but the "FDNY had to smash open the front window to release the smoke, and also tore up the charred beams to ensure that all embers were extinguished." So, though we haven't been able to reach anyone for confirmation, we suspect it won't be reopening today.

First Delicatessen and now this—we really don't want Lower Manhattan morning restaurant fires to be a trend!

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east village

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fire

manhattan

otafuku


Garth Johnston

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