HIGH POINT – An early-morning fire damaged a south High Point restaurant on Wednesday.

Firefighters responded to Pequeno Mexico, 800 S. Main St., Suite 101, about 12:40 a.m. after an alarm call was received and a passerby called 911 to report smoke coming from the building, according to the High Point Fire Department.

Crews got the fire under control quickly. No injuries were reported. The restaurant was closed and no one was inside at the time.

Investigators determined that the fire started in a trash can in the kitchen and caused an estimated $200,000 damage, said fire department Capt. Denita Lynch. The cause remained under investigation Wednesday.

“From what the (Fire Marshal) said, in that restaurant, I think the kitchen area is pretty much gone. I think they’re going to have quite a bit of repairs,” Lynch said.

The restaurant is part of a building that includes three other businesses, including a Family Dollar store next door that was closed Wednesday to assess possible smoke damage. A sign on the door of Family Dollar said the business would be open today. The other two businesses in the building – a bakery and a Rent-A-Center – remained open for business Wednesday afternoon.

Pequeno Mexico owner Veronica Paniagua said the restaurant had served dinner and closed about 10:30 p.m. Tuesday. She said she didn’t know what may have sparked the fire. She said she wasn’t sure when her business, which includes a meat market, might re-open. She said it was a popular spot among the local Hispanic community and had been in business since 1994. A sign outside the restaurant Wednesday directed patrons to a taco restaurant Paniagua and her family own at 415 National Highway, Thomasville.

pkimbrough@hpe.com | 888-3531