ASHEBORO, N.C. (WGHP) — Asheboro Fire and Rescue is investigating after an explosion caused extensive damage to a pair of restaurants.
Just before midnight on Saturday, an explosion was reported near Coach’s Neighborhood Grill on NC 49 that caused the roof to collapse along with a wall, according to the Asheboro Police Department.
Investigators say that a possible gas explosion at Chu’s Express, which neighbors Coach’s, pushed a shared wall several inches into Coach’s, causing damage to ceiling tiles and insulation.
No one was injured, and there was no fire as a result of the explosion.
Both restaurants suffered extensive damage.
“We found a lot of damage to the ceiling and the partition wall between Coach’s and Chu’s that had been moved due to the explosion,” Asheboro Fire Department Assistant Chief Frankie Kelly said. “Some appliances at Chu’s was leaking gas, and the portability moving up to the attic area, and it was natural gas, lighter than the air, so moved up the attic area, found the initial source, and we had a gas explosion.”
Word spread pretty quickly through the tight-knit community about the explosion and temporary closure of Chu’s Express and Coach’s.