Landmark Jackson Restaurant Burns Down
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JACKSON, Tenn.–A landmark restaurant in East Jackson burned down early Thursday morning. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Crews took down what‘s left of Mary Long‘s Cafe on Thursday. “This is the place where our family comes to gather and talk about the good times, talk about the bad times,” Marquita Long, a relative of the owner said. “I mean really this is our family.” The restaurant, which also serves as a residence, caught fire around 3:30 a.m. It took crews an hour and a half to get the fire under control. “I ain’t gone lie I was, I about lost my mind,” Long said. Long‘s great-grandmother started the business more than 40 years ago. Her aunt, Mary Long, is the current owner. “I really feel sad for her because you know this is her lifestyle,” said Long. “This is what she lives for.” Five generations grew up going to the cafe. “I ate greens,” Macorion Bradford said, a customer. “I ate macaroni and I ate bread.” Firefighters say one person was inside the building when the fire sparked. No one was injured. “Mary Long’s is no longer for the moment,” said Long. “We still have the family which is huge for us.” Fire destroyed the building, but it will not destroy the Long family. They plan to rebuild. “We will be back up and running, so hey come on down when we get it together,” said Long. Through prayer and by faith the Long family vows to move forward. Firefighters say the flames started on the residential side of the building. Jackson police say they responded to more than 50 calls at the Mary Long‘s Cafe address since January 2012. Officers say a large number of those calls are disturbance calls.
