An old-school Midtown diner has indefinitely closed its doors following a fire.
Located at 237 S Cooper St, Bob’s Barksdale Restaurant suffered a kitchen fire on Monday, June 3. The blaze was contained to the back wall but destroyed the stove. In addition to the destruction caused by the fire, water damage ensued from the fire suppression system sprinklers.
Owner Beth Henry told The Daily Memphian that she plans to rebuild the kitchen, pending the insurance company’s assessment of the damages. She expressed gratitude for the support from both her regular customers and the larger local community.
Since her husband and former co-owner Bob Henry passed away ten years ago, the eatery has endured a series of misfortunes. In 2020, the pandemic forced Bob’s Barksdale to close for 80 days, and in 2022, a car crash into the building’s foyer caused a 57-day delay in operations.
Henry noted that the restaurant’s location in an older building contributes to longer inspection times, which also delayed the reopening after the car crash.
“I woke up this morning, and it just hit me again,” Henry told The Daily Memphian. “This really did happen. This is going to be a long haul.”
What Now Memphis will update this page as Bob’s Barksdale Restaurant rebuilds in Midtown.
