Lennox A. Gillam

Larksville police have new program to help lost pets

First Posted: 3/18/2014 BUTLER TWP. &#8212; Damenti&#8217;s Restaurant was described by a regular customer and close friend to its owners as &#8220;our &#8216;Cheers,&#8217; &#8221; referring to the 1980s NBC sitcom about a fictional Boston bar.
A fire destroyed the landmark restaurant on state Route 309 late Monday night while owners Kevin McDonald and his wife, Helen, escaped without injury. They lived on the second floor.
A pet dog was saved, but the family&#8217;s cat might have perished.
Firefighters from several Mountain Top and greater Hazleton area municipalities, including Schuylkill County, responded to the blaze at about 10:40 p.m.
Valley Regional Fire Chief Rich Bognar said battling the fire was difficult as firefighters used tanker trucks to transport water from a creek. No hydrants are located near the restaurant.
&#8220;We had heavy fire in the rear of the structure that went up through the roof,&#8221; Bognar said.
Water that was poured into portable pools was used to extinguish the blaze.
Firefighters were unable to enter the burning building as it was deemed too dangerous, Bognar said. The rear roof over the bar and kitchen collapsed into the structure, and the metal exhaust chimney was in danger of toppling.
It took several hours to bring the fire under control.
Firefighters returned to the restaurant as the fire rekindled at about 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, concentrating their efforts on the rear of the building, where the kitchen was located.
Joseph Potelunas, a close friend to the McDonalds, said he saw the flames from his home two miles away.
&#8220;From what I was told, Kevin had just fallen asleep when he woke up to the fire alarm. He opened the door and smoke just hit him. He woke up his wife and she couldn&#8217;t even see him; the smoke was that thick,&#8221; Potelunas said.
He said the restaurant was closed on Monday, but it was jammed with customers on Sunday for a St. Patrick&#8217;s Day celebration.
&#8220;I hope they rebuild. It&#8217;s a staple, it&#8217;s a landmark. It&#8217;s our &#8216;Cheers&#8217; where everybody knows your name,&#8221; Potelunas said.
A few people pulled into the rear parking lot Tuesday morning to see the loss. An elderly woman who said she is a regular customer wept in her car and asked if Kevin or Helen were around.
A state police fire marshal was called in to investigate the cause.
Damenti&#8217;s is known for its annual Ice Bar during the winter season and Sand Bar during warmer months, with the McDonalds donating half of the proceeds to different charities over the years. Benefiting charities included United Way, Kirby Library, Max and Lorraine Foundation that benefits people with asthma, and the Palmer Heart to Heart Fund that supports the Beads of Courage program at the Janet Weis Children&#8217;s Hospital in Danville.
Kevin McDonald and his wife opened the restaurant in 1978 when they purchased the building and restaurant from Jimmy Damenti. They could not be reached for comment Monday.
Damenti&#8217;s has been a fixture at the Route 309 location for nearly 60 years.

Fire destroys landmark restaurant