A four-alarm fire caused substantial damage Monday night to a historic building undergoing renovations in Boston's Theater District.
The property at 31-37 Stuart St., home to the former Jacob Wirth restaurant and beer hall that had been planning to reopen, saw an estimated $3M in damages from the fire spreading to all four floors, Boston 25 News reported. Fire crews responded to the emergency shortly after 11 p.m.
“We’re heartbroken over the fire that occurred late last evening. We’ve been working diligently to restore this landmark building, first opened in 1868, to continue the great legacy of Jacob Wirth for future generations,” Jamison LaGuardia said in a statement on behalf of Jacob Wirth Realty Trust. “We are deeply thankful to the Boston Fire Department for its fast response, and beyond grateful no one was injured.”
The fire was so strong that firefighters were forced to retreat from the building and use an adjacent parking lot to battle the flames. Due to the fire's proximity to other structures, people in the adjacent 30-story building were also evacuated.
Companies are attacking the fire from all directions , using the adjacent parking garage to battle the 4 alarm fire. Multiple deck guns and ladder pipes continue to pour water on the fire from above and below. pic.twitter.com/T8siw1bDmU
— Boston Fire Dept. (@BostonFire) June 25, 2024
The building was constructed in 1844 and became a historic landmark in 1975. Jacob Wirth had been closed since 2018 when another fire in the building forced it to shutter, The Boston Globe reported.
Allston-based City Realty acquired the 10K SF building in February 2023 for $5.3M and was in the process of renovating the restaurant in preparation for an August reopening. The landlord was partnering with Royale Entertainment Group on the renovation.
