A one-alarm fire broke out at House of Pies on Kirby at approximately 10:40 p.m. Wednesday. Diners evacuated the building without incident once they became aware of the fire.
"A guy banged on the windows, saying 'the building is on fire,' and we thought he was joking," one customer told KHOU. "Then we saw people running."
Restaurant manager Greg Smith tells CultureMap that the electrical fire began outside the building, and that firefighters had the blaze under control in about 20 minutes. Smith says the damage looks worse than it is, and that most of the internal damage came from firefighters having to cut holes in the ceiling to put out the fire.
According to a Houston Fire Department report, the roof and exterior suffered significant damage. The fire was declared under control shortly after 11 p.m.
Smith estimates that the restaurant will reopen in a few days. When CultureMap visited the location Thursday morning, a repair crew had already begun to assemble.
When he was asked whether diners will have to make alternative plans for their Thanksgiving pies, Smith replied, while casually feasting on one of the restaurant's signature mini cherry pies, "don't worry about that."
That's good news for families whose holiday tradition includes Bayou Goo.
Watch the full KHOU news report below (or click here):
An electrical fire damaged Upper Kirby institution House of Pies Wednesday night.
