Beer biscuits and all, Barbec’s burns down

One neighbor said eight-10 firefighters had to break down the back door before they could tackle the flames. Another resident of an apartment complex nearby said the smoke was overwhelmingly thick. Everyone agreed it was a terrible loss for the community. Barbec’s Restaurant, an East Dallas icon for more than four decades, burned down this last Saturday night. The call came into 911 at 3:45 a.m., where Dallas Fire-Rescue (DFR) were dispatched to 8949 Garland Road. When firefighters arrived, dark smoke was pouring from the diner. It took about 35 minutes for the fire to be extinguished. DFR Public Information Officer Jason Evans said investigators estimate the restaurant suffered from approximately $125,000 in structural damages and more than $50,000 worth of damage to the inside of the building. No injuries were reported. It is not known at this time if Barbec’s will reopen. — Nancy Black