Morning fire shuts doors on eatery

An apparent electrical fire that started early Saturday morning will close down Cumberland Valley Inn in Watertown.
The Watertown Volunteer Fire Department responded to the fire in the popular Watertown restaurant at 5:15 a.m. on Saturday.
When firefighters arrived they found a visible blaze burning in the kitchen near the pizza oven, Watertown Fire Chief John Jewell said.
With the assistance of WEMA stations one, five and seven the fire was out within 30 minutes, Jewell said.
Though the cause of the fire is still under investigation, Jewell said it was likely caused by an electrical malfunction. The fire caused extensive damage to the kitchen area of the restaurant, he said.
The owner of the restaurant Dave Garabedian said the fire came at the height of the restaurant's success in Watertown. The restaurant has been open for about a year.
"We had been breaking all sales records up until the last day of operation," Garabedian said.
Friday before the fire was the busiest Friday ever for the restaurant, he said.
Garabedian said he didn't know when the restaurant would reopen, but he said they would be serving the people of Watertown again, and soon.
"We'll be bigger and better," he said. "Even before the fire I was taking bids on expanding the building."
Staff writer Nick Fowler can be reached at 444-3952 ext. 15 or by e-mail at nick.fowler@lebanondemocrat.com.