Fire damages North Beach Bar, Secret Spot, Cinnamon Rainbows in Hampton

HAMPTON — A three-alarm fire left two popular North Beach restaurants with extensive damage Friday morning.

secret placewhich serves smoothies, ice cream and sandwiches during the summer, and North Beach Bar & Grill were significantly damaged in the blaze that occurred around midnight, Hampton Fire Chief Michael McMahon said Friday morning.

The initial call was made from North Beach Bar and Grill, according to McMahon. Hampton Fire received the call for the fire at 12:20 a.m. and arrived to find that the fire had started near the kitchens of the two restaurants which are adjacent to each other.

The fire went through the roof and firefighters attacked it bringing a hose to the North Beach Bar and Grill. McMahon said firefighters then discovered there was also a fire inside Secret Spot. The fire was brought under control at 2:11 a.m., he said.

New Hampshire Fish and Game:Piping plover eggs illegally removed from Hampton Beach

When will businesses reopen?

McMahon said the damage was “extensive” and the two dining spaces will not be usable “for the foreseeable future”. The cause of the fire and its place of origin are still under investigation, he said.

“It’s a discussion between owners and insurance,” McMahon said of the future of the two companies. The owners of Secret Spot and North Beach Bar and Grill were at the scene of the fire Friday morning and declined to comment.

Cinnamon Rainbows Surf Co., located in the same plaza at the corner of High Street and Ocean Boulevard, was exposed to smoke but did not see fire enter its space, according to McMahon. The shop has been on this corner square since 1989.

“Thanks to HFD for saving the building from the fire”, the shop posted on Facebook Friday morning. The message said the store would be closed for a few days due to cleaning, although owner Dave Cropper said later in the day that it might need a few weeks to reopen.

After:Hampton Beach lifeguards earn bragging rights at 2022 Northeast Lifesaving Competition

The Hampton fire was assisted by the fire departments of North Hampton, Hampton Falls, Seabrook, Rye, Exeter, Stratham, Greenland, Rye, Portsmouth, Dover, East Kingston, Kingston, Brentwood, York Rehab in Maine and Amesbury and Newburyport, Massachusetts. They were also assisted by police from Hampton, Aquarian and Unitil.