A 4-alarm fire in Arlington on Monday evening destroyed two restaurants, and the owners now seek community help to rebuild.
Firefighters responded about 5:45 p.m. after the first call about the fire at Beirut Grill at 2410 W. Abram St., the Arlington Fire Department said in a news release.
A second alarm was requested when the first fire trucks arrived on scene. The fire progressed, and crews inside were ordered to evacuate the building and transition to defensive operations at about 6:20 p.m., officials said.
A fourth alarm was requested at 6:27 p.m., and more than 80 firefighters responded to the scene. The fire was brought under control about 7:40 p.m., according to the release.
Smash Toast, a sandwich shop, and Lebanese restaurant Beirut Grill were a total loss as a result of the fire. The cause of the fire is unknown and will be investigated once conditions allow, the department said.
Community’s support to rebuilt
Bobby King and Kait Thibeaux opened Smash Toast less than 12 months ago. The restaurant is insured, and the owners have faith that the Arlington community, who supported the business when it opened, will return to help, King told Star-Telegram media partner WFAA-TV.
“We are both from here,” King said. “It’s now a different chapter, maybe a different book.”
“It was a big scene,” Abbas Fares, owner of Beirut Grill, told WFAA. “I’ve never seen something like that before. We are still shocked.”
Arlington firefighters battle a 4-alarm fire at a commercial building which included the Beirut Grill restaurant at 2410 W. Abram St. on Monday evening, Aug. 17, 2026. Arlington Fire Department
“Beirut Grill has never been just a restaurant to us. It has been a place where people came together, shared meals, celebrated special moments, and created memories. Every customer who walked through our doors became part of our story,” the restaurant owners wrote in a GoFundMe post organized for rebuilding expenses.
They are asking for the community’s support to cover operational expenses, repair costs, equipment replacement, and cleanup.
“We are heartbroken, but we are not giving up. We believe Beirut Grill can rise again, stronger than ever, and we hope to welcome you back through our doors one day,” the post read. “Beirut Grill may have burned, but the love and memories built inside it cannot be taken away.”
This story was originally published August 20, 2026 at 7:28 PM.
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Shambhavi covers crime, law enforcement and other breaking news in Fort Worth and Tarrant County. She graduated from the University of North Texas and previously covered a variety of general assignment topics in West Texas. She grew up in Nepal.