Fire Destroys 773 Lounge; Owners Vow To Rebuild & Be ‘Stronger Than Ever’

About 60 firefighters from 12 units battled an all-hands fire at 773 Lounge Thursday morning, and thankfully there were no injuries. The blaze devastated the longtime neighborhood favorite, which has been serving beers since 1969, but Margaret Cain, one of the owners, told us that they will rebuild and be “stronger than ever.”

The exterior of the building remains but there was widespread damage inside. The FDNY has not said what caused the fire, though several neighbors reported that it began near the back of the bar, near the kitchen area. Several workers were in the building this morning and saw the fire as soon as it broke out – a positive thing, one neighbor noted, because they were able to immediately call for help.

When we spoke to the owners outside the lounge this morning, they said they appreciate all the community well-wishes that have been flooding in, and wanted to let neighbors know that they plan on remaining one of the best bars around. We’ll keep you updated on the rebuilding progress, as well as if there’s any way the community can help.

First three photos courtesy Lisa Witler.