Building of former Youngsville restaurant collapses

The Youngsville Fire Department found extensive damage on Monday morning to the former site of Griffin’s Restaurant after the second floor collapsed.

There were no injuries but there is also damage to businesses near the former restaurant located at 132 East Main Street, the fire department said in a Facebook post.

The fire department said Main Street will be closed from the train tracks to Cross Street until further notice while the property owner works to secure the building. Fire department personnel arrived at the restaurant around 8 a.m. Monday.

The fire department asked for the public to avoid the area as crews have worked most of the day to clear the scene.

On Monday, the Youngsville Police Department made a separate Facebook post, stating how crews removed portions of the downtown building. Police said the former building of Griffin's Restaurant was too compromised structurally to save.

Griffin’s Restaurant permanently closed in October 2020.

On Monday, WRAL News spoke with several people come by to take pictures or simply star in awe of the damage.

"[I'm] very sad to see this today," said Youngsville resident Deborah Holden. "I found out this morning on social media, and said, 'I've got to get over there to see this.

"[It's] very sad."