ROCK HILL, S.C.,None — Adel Ahmad worked for two years to build a base of loyal customers at the Sahara Mediterranean Restaurant in Rock Hill. Thursday night, moments after he left for home, it was all gone.
"I don't know what I'm going to do," Ahmad said. "I don't know what happened."
A police officer driving past the India Hook Road restaurant saw smoke and flames. The business had only been closed for about 20 minutes.
"I was almost home in Charlotte," Ahmad said.
Fire investigators said the fire was an accident. Ashes from a Middle Eastern smoking pipe called a hookah dumped in a trash can started the fire.
There is a gaping hole in the collapsed roof of the restaurant. Inside, wires and insulation hang from the rafters, and the floor is littered with the fallen ceiling, and burned tables and chairs.
SLIDESHOW: Fire damages Rock Hill restaurant
"It's awful. It's terrible. Totally destroyed," said Wayne Wingate, who works at an advertising business that's attached to the restaurant. His heart goes out to Ahmad.
"He's been struggling for a while as many businesses have in this economy. Then for this to happen."
Greg Goin runs a hearing aid business on the back of the building. Investigators said because the fire was spotted quickly, it was contained to the restaurant only. Goin did leave his door propped open with a chair to vent the strong smell of smoke.
"We're blessed to be ok," Goin said. "You feel for the guy, and you hope that he lands on his feet."
Ahmad did not have insurance on the restaurant. Rock Hill Fire Capt. Rusty Myers said that's the most tragic part.
"You hate it. You always want to make sure you have insurance because you never know when that one incident happens, and you need it," he said. "Insurance is expensive, but it's not as expensive as losing your business."
The fire caused about $200,000 in damage.
WSOC
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