Fire destroys Northern Kentucky business that was close to opening

MAYSVILLE, Ky. (WXIX) – A Maysville business owner was forced to stop renovations on his future restaurant after a fire broke out on Sunday.

The Wild Bull Saloon has been closed since the COVID-19 Pandemic, but owner Tommy Henderson tells FOX19 NOW that he had plans to reopen it as a steakhouse in just a few months.

However, things took a turn for the worse.

Just this weekend, a fire broke out with thick smoke and flames coming out of what used to be the Wild Bull Saloon.

“I worked two years to make something happen and you lose it overnight,” he said.

Henderson didn’t only lose his business that night, but also his home. He was living in the second-floor apartment right above his restaurant.

“And I was up the road here, about a mile and a half to another business of mine, and they said this place was on fire,” the business owner said. “I seen it. Mostly it looked like it was coming off my back deck of the business here.”

The deck of the building is completely destroyed, which was part of Henderson’s apartment. He says he is staying in a hotel for the time being.

“I have no insurance in the place. So my heart was like, ‘Oh, you know, all this money in this place, and get ready to lose it all,’ you know. So I was sort of like having an anxiety attack a little bit,” he explained.

This isn’t the first time Henderson has had trouble with his business.

When he bought the place in 2017, he turned it back into a nightclub. But when COVID struck, his business was shut down.

Despite the uphill battle, Henderson was inspired by some of the restaurants in Ohio and wanted to try again.

“And then a couple of years ago I decided to start to work on it again and see if I can make a steakhouse.”

He was only six months away from opening the new and improved restaurant, but since the fire, he doesn’t know if his vision will ever come to life.

He says the fire caused $75,000 worth of damages.

“I’m pretty disgusted. So I just need a break, maybe another couple years break.”

As of now, it is unknown what caused the fire.

FOX19 NOW reached out to fire officials for more information.

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