A fire that started 45 minutes after Late Night Pie closed last night at 3 a.m. burned the pizza joint nearly to the ground. ABC-13 reported that the restaurant had suffered major damage as a result of the fire, which the Houston Fire Department battled for three hours.
Public reaction to the news was mixed, with most people remembering all of the bad pizzas and bizarre service they'd received at the late-night spot.
"The only memories I'll have of Late Night Pie are bad pizza and the help drinking liquor from the bottle, behind the bar," wrote Houston Press photographer Groovehouse on Twitter. "Rest in ashes LNP."
"Craziest place I ever worked," wrote Pi Pizza Truck owner Anthony Calleo, also on Twitter. "140 characters isn't the medium for that tale of sleep deprivation, debauchery and existential fear and trembling."
Our sister blog, Rocks Off, had more positive tales to tell of the place, which was beloved for its "musician-friendly hours" and cheap beer, as well as being one of the few places around town to get non-fast-food after a show.
The fire marks the third restaurant to burn down in Midtown in the last few years, although it's the only one with no reports of injuries: Brennan's burned down in 2008, a victim of a fire started during Hurricane Ike, while Mai's burned down in 2010 after a grease fire claimed the restaurant. Both restaurants eventually reopened.
It is unknown at this time whether or not Late Night Pie has plans to reopen or what caused the fire, although HFD arson investigators were on the scene this morning.
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