Fire Rips Through Park Slope Restaurant, Forcing Temporary Shutdown

PARK SLOPE, NY — A fire last week has temporarily closed Latin American restaurant Empanada Loca in Park Slope until further notice, officials said.

The fire reportedly began around 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 4 in the basement of Empanada Loca’s location at 606 5th Avenue, just off the Prospect Expressway, and was likely electrical in nature, according to reports.

FDNY crews arrived within minutes and extinguished the flames within an hour, but the damage was already extensive, according to the owners.

The team at Empanada Loca said the fire, along with water damage and a power surge from a Con Edison service line, left the space in ruins. Much of their equipment was destroyed, and the interior was completely gutted.

"The restaurant, our second home, was reduced to ashes and pieces," the crew wrote on GoFundMe.

Empanada Loca, which recently celebrated its 10-year anniversary in Park Slope, is known for its authentic Latin American cuisine, including empanadas, tacos, sandwiches, arepas and more.

The fire has left the restaurant inoperable, and while insurance will provide some assistance, it falls far short of covering the costs of rebuilding and supporting their dedicated team during this unexpected closure, the team said.

To help bridge the gap, the team at Empanada Loca has launched a GoFundMe campaign aimed at raising funds to rebuild the restaurant from the ground up and provide much-needed support for their staff, who are now facing an unexpected loss of income.

"This isn’t just about bricks and mortar. It’s about a neighborhood institution that has always put community first," wrote the fundraiser organizer. "Help us spread the word and rebuild something that matters — not just to us, but to the entire Park Slope community."