Current conditions for local cities
CityAtlanta
Current Temperature46°
Sky ConditionsPartly Cloudy
Forecasted Temperatures
Time10:00am1:00pm
Sky ConditionClearClear
Temperature
60°
71°
Full Forecast ››
Radar ImageCurrent Radar ››
Results by Google
Home News 

Story

Fire Guts Popular DeKalb County Cuban Restaurant

Havana Restaurant Has Been Open 32 Years

Posted: 5:56 am EDT October 6, 2008Updated: 1:55 pm EDT October 6, 2008

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. -- Fire gutted a popular DeKalb County restaurant early Monday morning.

The owner of the Havana Restaurant at Buford Highway and North Druid Hills Road blamed the fire on homeless people.

  • SLIDESHOW: Havana Restaurant Fire IM

    • Debbie Benedit said the fire started outside the restaurant just after midnight and spread inside.

    "My heart just sunk," said Benedit.

    The owner of the 32-year-old restaurant said it has been the target of recent break-in attempts.

    "Tonight it looks like they tried to burn the building down," said Benedit.

    No one was injured in the fire.

    Benedit saID the restaurant was the target of an attempted break-in last week. Her late husband's family migrated to the United States from Cuba, and the restaurant has served sandwiches for 32 years.

    The national restaurant guide Zagat has recognized Havana Sandwich Shop as the "Top Cuban Restaurant" in Atlanta several times.

    Benedit would not say if she plans to reopen the Havana Restaurant.

    Copyright 2008 by WSBTV.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

    More Headlines

    2 Investigates

    A startling new report suggests that many weather observation stations in the U.S. and Georgia are gathering inaccurate data. Tom Regan reports. Full Story ››
    WEB EXTRA: Temperature Recording Stations

    A Whistleblower 2 Investigation has found that scores -- probably hundreds of people -- charged with violent felonies are released from the Fulton County Jail without having to post bail. The county's chief superior court judge says the program is a huge success -- but even she acknowledges it was never intended for defendants charged with violent crimes. Channel 2's Richard Belcher has the story. Full Story ››
    WEB EXTRA: Pretrial Release Program Documents


    Every week, the roads of metro Atlanta are the scene of major tractor-trailer wrecks. Now, the parents of a college student killed by a speeding truck have launched a campaign to mandate speed limiting equipment on heavy trucks. Channel 2's Tom Regan recently talked with the family. Full Story ››
    WEB EXTRA: RAW VIDEO: Truck Crashes Caught On Tape


    In record numbers, foreign students flock to the U.S. in search of a great education. But Channel 2 has learned that more than 170,000 have broken the rules while here. That has led to dozens of arrests in Georgia alone and critics wonder if the government's tracking system is in trouble. Channel 2's Jodie Fleischer investigates. Full Story ››
    Fake School Slipped Through Cracks For Years
    WEB EXTRA: Student Visa Violators By School


    If you're hurt in a collision with a MARTA bus -- be warned. Three quarters of the time, MARTA will fight before it pays. Getting MARTA to fix your car can also be a challenge. Channel 2's consumer investigator Jim Strickland found the evidence in MARTA's own files -- looking at more than 1,200 accidents over the last two years. Full Story ››
    WEB EXTRA: MARTA Spreadsheet Detailing MVA Claims
    WEB EXTRA RAW VIDEOS: Interview With MARTA CEO Dr. Beverly Scott | Interview With Attorney Who Represents Victim Of MARTA Collision
    More Investigates