A fire that broke out early Tuesday morning at the Captain’s Table restaurant along Battleship Parkway is being investigated as suspected arson, with Mobile fire officials estimating the damage at roughly $105,000.
Firefighters with the Mobile Fire-Rescue Department responded around 3:30 a.m. after a report of smoke coming from the top of the building. Crews arrived to find what department spokesman Steve Huffman described as heavy fire inside the dining area. Firefighters were able to extinguish the flames relatively quickly, but not before smoke spread through much of the restaurant, adding to the damage well beyond the immediate area where the fire originated.
By Thursday morning, two days after the blaze, caution tape still lined the walkway leading up to the restaurant, which has remained closed since firefighters left the scene. Fire officials confirmed the fire is believed to have been intentionally set, but they declined to share additional details about a possible cause or motive, citing the sensitivity of the ongoing investigation.
The restaurant’s future remained unclear in the days following the fire, with no timeline announced for repairs, cleanup or reopening. Captain’s Table has long been a fixture along Battleship Parkway, a stretch of road that carries both local traffic and travelers passing through the causeway area between Mobile and Baldwin County, drawing a steady mix of regulars and visitors over the years.
Mobile Fire-Rescue investigators continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the fire as they work to determine who may be responsible. Officials have not indicated whether any suspects have been identified, and no arrests had been announced as of Thursday. Investigators are expected to continue processing the scene and reviewing evidence in the days ahead as the case remains open.
The blaze adds to a string of concerns for property owners along the causeway corridor, where aging structures sit close together and where fire crews must often navigate limited access points to reach buildings quickly. Mobile Fire-Rescue has not said whether the department plans additional patrols or inspections along the parkway in the wake of the fire, though officials reiterated that anyone with information about the blaze is encouraged to come forward as the investigation continues.