The Muskingum Drive Wendy’s in Marietta faces temporary closure following a fire on April 28. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

MARIETTA — A Wendy’s restaurant on Muskingum Drive in Marietta suffered from significant damage after a fire broke out in the early hours of April 28.

According to Marietta Fire Chief C.W. Durham, the fire, reported after 3 a.m., caused extensive damage to the kitchen and led to smoke damage throughout the building.

Local franchisee Ray Blackburn confirmed the fire damage but clarified that the location will not close permanently.

“We definitely are not closing,” Blackburn said. “It was definitely no fault of our own; it was just a fire that happened and we lost pretty much most of the store.”

Blackburn stated that the restaurant has already undergone inspection by the Marietta Fire Department and work is now underway with the franchise’s insurance company to rebuild. Although it is too early to provide a definitive timeline, Blackburn stated he expected it would take several months before the location could reopen.

In the meantime, staff from the affected restaurant have been reassigned to other area Wendy’s locations, including the Pike Street and Belpre stores.

“It’s not a total loss,” Blackburn said. “It’s going to be more of a clean-out from the smoke and fire, and then putting it back together.”

Additional information from the Marietta Fire Department was not immediately available.