By: Madison Smith
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (UATV) – The old Arsagas at the Depot caught fire around 9 P.M. last night. One person was taken to Washington Regional Medical Center in an ambulance with non-life-threatening injuries.
Fayetteville Deputy Fire Marshal, Captain Andrew Horton, said that the fire was ruled an accident due to a warming fire started by the victim that was transported to the hospital.
This is the second time the building has caught fire since the restaurant closed in August 2021. The first fire was in October of last year, but no cause was ever determined and Captain Horton said that investigation is still underway.
Dickson St. resident, Zac Slade, said the fire was under control and fully out at approximately 10:30 P.M.
Arsagas at the Depot’s future began to be put into jeopardy in 2019 when talk of a new parking garage right next to their private lot started. After closing in March of 2020 due to COVID-19, Arsagas returned briefly during 2021 before closing the doors for a final time in August 2021, just four months before the new Dickson St. parking garage broke ground.
Owner Cary Arsaga opened the downtown location of Arsagas in 2012 after the train depot was renovated into a fully functioning restaurant and coffee shop. Arsagas Mill District remains open, along with their other locations on Center St., Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., inside the U of A Law Library, and inside the Fayetteville Public Library.