United States (Georgia) - Food lovers across the Milledgeville area are mourning the possible loss of a local institution this weekend. A Saturday morning structure fire consumed portions of the Pickle Barrel Cafe Sports Pub, causing area diners to search for a place to enjoy food and spirits during the University of Georgia's homecoming game against Vanderbilt, and filling employees with uncertainty about the future of this popular local eatery.

Milledgeville Fire Department Lieutenant Greg Hood told the Union-Recorder that city fire crews responded to a call about the fire at approximately 7:49 a.m. Saturday. Hood said the 1800 block of North Columbia Street was engulfed in a thick blanket of heavy smoke when the fire department arrived on the scene. After assessing the situation, his agency requested the assistance of volunteer crews from the North Baldwin and Hardwick stations of the Baldwin County Fire Department.

"We were on the scene until 11:16 a.m.," he said. "It took about two hours to get the fire under control."

Hood said the fire originated on the south side of a hallway in the rear of the building. "The fire spread from the hallway into the dining area, and the building sustained heavy smoke damage throughout," he said.

At this time, Hood added, it remains unclear whether the structure will be salvageable or not.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, though Hood said there is no suspicion of foul play.

Pickle Barrel employee Ethel Harris was among a group of employees and regular customers congregated on the Pickle Barrel deck in the misting rain early Saturday afternoon. She and others sat under the overhang of the ostensibly intact structure as car after car pulled into the parking lot to see the windows of the restaurant shaded with a coating of black soot, and charred furniture blocking its chained-up entrance.

"I'm devastated," Harris told the Union-Recorder. "I've been an employee for five years, ever since they opened up as the Pickle Barrel."

Pickle Barrel Manager Hunter Watson said Harris called to inform him about the fire at approximately 8:15 Saturday morning before he drove down to the scene of fire trucks and thick smoke.

"I just got the call this morning-I don't really know what to say-it's just so unexpected," he said.

Watson told The Union-Recorder that Pickle Barrel Owner Bob Jaworski had been in Florida, but was headed back to Milledgeville after hearing of the fire.

Written by The Union-Recorder