Weekend Fire and Water Damage to Red Pony Restaurant in Historic Downtown Franklin | Eater Nashville

"I read that a fire and explosion around 4 a.m. in historic Downtown Franklin caused nearly $300,000 in damage to Red Pony Restaurant, activating two second-floor fire-extinguishing sprinklers, setting off the alarm, and bringing the Franklin Fire Department to the scene. The majority of the fire damage was to the walk-in coolers and the private event space in the rear of the building, and water damage was extensive; the cause is still under investigation. In a Facebook post the Williamson County mainstay for hyperlocal cuisine said no one was hurt, thanked the Franklin Fire Department, noted the restaurant has been open since 2006 in a space originally built in 1899, and said "what was destroyed can be repaired" with a restoration timeline to be announced. Fundraising plans are underway to keep the Red Pony team employed, and they asked the community to support sister restaurants Cork and Cow and 55 South and to buy gift cards at redponyrestaurant.com; I also noted their tagline, "Sophisticated Southern Cuisine." - Eater