Jack tennesse fire1/16/2024 ![]() ![]() "I have eaten at the Cookie Jar multiple times, although I do not recall the exact last time," Lynch said. Lynch is also among Cookie Jar fans mourning the damaging fire. Thankful no one was injured and looking forward to your return." I hope God hears all prayers and knows this community needs you to be here. "We have taken so many family and friends there over the years and even did curbside pick up during COVID. "We have loved the Cookie Jar since moving to Tennessee 16 years ago," Hubbard-Schniering wrote. Kathy Hubbard-Schniering, of Chattanooga, recalled a visit after making Tennessee her home. Prayers for all of you during this difficult time." "The worst part is how it affects your employees. "Our restaurant caught on fire a few years back, and we were closed for around six months for restoration," Rice wrote in her post. Lisa Rothwell Rice, of nearby Pikeville, offered some words from experience. Many prayers being sent to you from Ohio." My parents are both gone now, but it is such a sweet memory for me. ![]() "They took me there when I would visit, and we would get your huge coconut cake or some other goodies to take home. "Oh, this makes me so terribly sad! My parents spent some of their retirement years in Dunlap and loved to go there - and their last name is Johnson," Findley posted. Ohio resident Jennifer Findley recalled past Cookie Jar visits with her mother and father. The Cookie Jar is officially closed until further notice."Ĭookie Jar lovers from near and far have posted hundreds of condolences and well-wishing messages since Sunday. Pray for us to make the correct decisions and to let God guide us. Thank you all for all the support over the years. "Watching 21 years go up in smoke is a difficult thing to endure. We had a terrible loss this morning," the message posted Sunday by the Lockharts said. "Please keep my employees in your prayers. The owners called for prayers in a social media post. (READ MORE: Monteagle's iconic 1960-era Jim Oliver's Smoke House burns to the ground Tuesday) The Cookie Jar is so named for the extensive collection of cookie jars displayed throughout the restaurant. The Johnson's history with the farm goes back 150 years, according to the café's website. Opened in 2002, the Cookie Jar Café is nestled in the rolling hills of the Sequatchie Valley on the Johnson family's farm and easily visible for miles around because of the bright blue tin roof that stands out from the patchwork of farmland on the north end of Dunlap. TBI determined it was an electrical fire and there were no signs of criminal activity." "The owners were not under suspicion as they were out of town at the time of the fire and had no insurance. "Our concern was retaliation due to an owner's previous employment in law enforcement and now with our office," Lynch said. Jody and Sue Ann Lockhart own the Cookie Jar, Lynch said, and Jody Lockhart was a longtime detective with the Sequatchie County Sheriff's Office and currently is the investigator for Lynch's office. ![]() In an email, Lynch said Monday the TBI was called in because of one of the owner's links to law enforcement. (READ MORE: Fire damages Dunlap restaurant) "At the request of the owners and District Attorney General Courtney Lynch, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Arson Section responded to oversee the fire investigation." "After about three hours of operation, the fire was controlled," the statement said. CDT Sunday following reports from the scene that smoke was coming from the roof.ĭunlap firefighters said water supply was an issue because there is no fire hydrant nearby, so they had to establish a water shuttle operation to provide water for fighting the fire using multiple fire tanker trucks. The restaurant remains closed as the state probe continues, but no foul play appears to be involved, authorities said.Īccording to a Dunlap Volunteer Fire Department news release, Dunlap firefighters got the call around 6 a.m. An early morning fire Sunday heavily damaged Dunlap, Tennessee's iconic Cookie Jar Café restaurant, and state investigators are looking into the cause. ![]()
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