Fire Destroys Cheers at Choto, a Beloved West Knox Marina Restaurant |
No injuries were reported after a major morning fire at the Choto Marina restaurant, but the waterfront gathering spot is considered a total loss. |
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A beloved lakeside restaurant in far West Knox County was destroyed Wednesday morning after a major fire at Cheers at Choto Bar & Grill at Choto Marina.
Rural Metro Fire was called to the restaurant just before 7 a.m. Wednesday. When crews arrived, the two-story building was nearly fully engulfed in flames, according to WVLT. Fire officials said crews had to fight the blaze from outside because the building had collapsed on itself. No injuries were reported. The building was unoccupied at the time of the fire, and firefighters were able to keep the flames from spreading to nearby fuel pumps and boats docked at the marina. The cause remains under investigation.
The loss is especially meaningful for residents in the Choto, Farragut, Concord, and West Knox lake communities. Cheers at Choto was more than a restaurant for many regulars. It was a waterfront gathering spot for boaters, families, lake-day visitors, and locals looking for a casual meal on Fort Loudoun Lake.
Because the fire resulted in a total loss, the next steps for the business are not yet clear. Officials had not announced a cause, rebuilding timeline, or reopening plan as of the latest available reports.
For now, the story is both a breaking-news item and a community-loss story. Fire crews protected critical marina infrastructure, and no one was hurt, but the restaurant itself is gone — leaving a familiar summer spot with an uncertain future. |