Crews work to clean Matthews street after tree slams restaurant

MATTHEWS, N.C. — Power has been restored to a Matthews street after a tree fell onto Kristopher’s Bar and Restaurant with customers inside.

At about 7:30 p.m. Saturday, the massive tree fell on the restaurant at North Trade and Matthews streets.

Everyone inside was able to get out safely.

Firefighters on the scene said one tree took out four power poles and about 1,300 people in area were without power.

Robby Stringer owns Kristopher's and said his restaurant remained closed all day Sunday. He commended emergency crews for getting his patrons out of the restaurant quickly.

"All the power lines in the front and the back of the building were lying across cars," Stringer said. "People couldn't get to their cars, because there were lines on top of them."

Two cars in the parking lot were damaged when the tree smashed into them. One car was likely totaled.

Sunday, Stringer's employees had to clean up the restaurant because all the food and drinks were left on the table.

As of early Monday morning, the intersection was still closed.

Stringer said the restaurant will try to open Monday. Despite losing out on some business, he said he's grateful.

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