Fire damages Yummy Buffet in Cape Girardeau, community shows support

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KBSI)— A fire incident damaged the Yummy Buffet Asian Cuisine restaurant in Cape Girardeau late Saturday night, resulting in them temporarily closing its doors as they work toward reopening.

Today, residents express their support for the restaurant, hoping it will reopen soon.

Luther Butler Jr., a pastor from St. Louis at First Baptist Church of Kinloch, said he was shocked to see the damage as he returned from a family reunion in Arkansas.

“First off, we were traveling, coming from the family reunion in Arkansas. We got hungry and we said, ‘Let’s go eat at our spot,’” Butler says. “As we were getting off the exit, we noticed that the building had been burned. I was shocked and I was surprised.”

The restaurant shared this statement on its Facebook page.

Butler, who pastors First Baptist Church of Kinloch, says he never misses an opportunity to visit Yummy Buffet when passing through Cape Girardeau.

After seeing the damage firsthand, Butler wanted to give a heartfelt message to the owners.

“Owners, I hate to hear what happened, but I’m pretty sure if you rebuild, the community will still support you. I know I’ll be supporting you.”

The restaurant has not yet announced when it will reopen, as the investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.