A third Tops Bar-B-Q restaurant has caught fire in just four months.
This latest incident took place at the 3970 Rhodes Ave location in the early hours of Thursday, February 20, 2025. According to the Memphis Fire Department (MFD), the flames were accidentally sparked in the building’s HVAC unit and ceiling vents.
Fortunately, nobody was inside at the time, as the eatery had closed the previous evening due to winter weather. MFD estimates that the flames caused roughly $58,000 in damages—$43,000 to the building and $15,000 in lost content.
Tops CEO Randy Hough, who did not respond to requests for comment, issued a statement attributing the fire to “mechanical issues.”
“As the safety and security of employees, customers, and communities is our top priority, we are thankful to report that no one was in the building at the time or injured in the fire this morning at Tops on Rhodes Avenue,” Hough said. “We appreciate the work by the Memphis Fire Department to extinguish the fire, which we believe was caused by mechanical issues. At this time, the Rhodes location will be closed until repairs can be completed. We are working to determine the extent of the damage and a plan for repairs and reopening.”
This fire follows two others in late 2024—one at the Summer Ave location in October and another in Frayser in November. Both were also linked to mechanical failures.
Tops Bar-B-Q operates 17 locations in or around the Memphis area. The all-day chain is known for its barbecue, cheeseburgers, breakfast, nachos, mac and cheese, and cheese fries.
