Restaurant reopens after fire

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - The Original Frozen Custard, near Columbian Park in Lafayette has been serving customers since 1932. The restaurant had to close its doors after a fire, but now, after 30 days, the restaurant has reopened.

Custard customer Craig Edwards said he was ecstatic when he saw the “Open” sign.

"It is like Christmas,” Edwards said. “I stop here religiously every morning."

Edwards and others had not been able to order anything for almost a month.

"I stopped in around 7:30 or 8:30, like clockwork,” said Edwards. “The last 30 days have been a little bit down for me."

Restaurant owner Kurt Lodde had been down too, ever since someone set the drive-thru on fire. Lodde said he and the rest of the family have been trying to look on the bright side.

"The only positive thing we have come up with so far is we got the whole thing cleaned and we did not have to do it," Lodde said.

Lodde added the fire did $50,000 worth of damage to the restaurant. The Coke machine that put out the fire was destroyed. A new machine will soon be delivered.

"It is almost like starting the year off anew, except it is colder,” Lodde said

Craig Edwards said he is just glad to get an essential part of his morning routine back.

“As long as I have my vanilla coke it is all I need," said Edwards.

Police are still looking for the man who started the fire. If you have any information call Lafayette Police (765)807-1200