Social, a gastropub off North Dixie Highway in Perrysburg, is a total loss after a massive fire, the Perrysburg fire chief said at the scene of a blaze there Thursday afternoon.
The Perrysburg Fire Division responded to the fire about 2 p.m. Thursday at 25818 N. Dixie Hwy. Fire Chief Rudy Ruiz said when crews arrived, smoke was showing on the side of the building, and the fire appears to have started on the building’s exterior.
“Once it got inside [the building], it really took off,” he said.
A few workers were inside when the fire broke out but all got out safely, Chief Ruiz said. No injuries were reported.
“We surrounded it pretty good,” Chief Ruiz said, but added that the wind blowing through the open-air portions of the pub helped the fire’s spread, making it difficult to combat.
The fire’s cause has not yet been identified, the chief said. Officials will contact the state fire marshal’s office for an investigation.
By 3 p.m., crews were working to knock down hotspots within the building, according to the chief. Along with Perrysburg, fire crews from Perrysburg Township, Middleton Township, and Rossford all responded.
“Everyone did a fantastic job,” Chief Ruiz said. “Very good teamwork.”
The owner of the business is Bruce Gradkowski, a former football star for the University of Toledo from 2003-2005. He also was backup quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The former University of Toledo star and NFL quarterback stepped down as head coach of the St. Francis de Sales High School football program in May, 11 months after taking over that coaching position.
Gradkowski did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment Thursday.
Social opened in 2013 and was Mr. Gradkowski’s second restaurant venture. It was designed to be a gastropub, which is a dining concept that refers to a bar or restaurant serving high-end beer and food.
First Published June 23, 2022, 7:15 p.m.
