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Central Texas restaurant fire shuts down South Congress strip
8 Sep
Summary
- A fire shut down Perla's Seafood and Oyster Bar after 17 years.
- The blaze affected three businesses on South Congress Avenue.
- Firefighters took two hours to extinguish the flames, with extensive damage.
A fire on Sunday, September 6, forced the indefinite closure of Perla's Seafood and Oyster Bar, a 17-year fixture on Austin's South Congress Avenue. The blaze also impacted Studs earrings and Gelato Paradiso, located in the same building, leaving all three businesses temporarily shuttered.
The Austin Fire Department reported that the fire originated in a kitchen vent hood system and quickly spread upward through the roof. Firefighters arrived within minutes of the box alarm and spent roughly two hours extinguishing the flames, which had caused extensive damage to every floor of the building.
While Perla's and Gelato Paradiso remain closed until further notice, Studs aims to reopen by Friday, September 11, directing customers to its alternative Domain location in the interim. One firefighter received treatment for a minor heat-related issue. Damage estimates for the building are not yet available.
