Reuben’s Deli a well-known kosher restaurant in Centeal London, has been forced to close again following a devastating fire early on August 9th. This is the second fire the deli has experienced in less than six months, with the previous incident occurring in February due to an electrical fault.
The latest blaze started at 4:56 AM and rapidly spread through the ground and first floors of the four-story building located on Baker Street. The London Fire Brigade, deploying 60 firefighters and eight fire engines from stations including Paddington, Soho, and Euston, managed to control the fire by 7:10 AM. Footage from the scene showed significant damage, with the restaurant’s front windows shattered and interiors severely blackened.
Approximately 20 people evacuated from the residential flats above the deli before the fire crews arrived. The fire brigade also used a 32-meter ladder as an observation tower to manage the firefighting efforts.
The proprietor, Mr. Landau, expressed his team’s dismay over the incident, noting the unfortunate timing as the deli was still undergoing repairs from the previous fire. “We are waiting for the forensics team to see if it was arson,” Mr. Landau stated, indicating that the cause of the fire is under investigation by the London Fire Brigade’s investigation team.
Despite the closure of the main restaurant, Reuben’s recently opened dairy cafe on Baker Street, just a minute’s walk from the deli, was not affected and remained open as usual. This establishment continues to serve the community, upholding its claim as the “longest-running kosher restaurant in the UK.”
As the investigation continues, the community and Mr. Landau await answers, hoping for the possibility to rebuild and resume operations in the future.
