Nearly $100,000 in damage caused by fire at former Collingwood pizza joint site

The cause of a blaze at the ex-site of a well-known Collingwood pizza joint has yet to be determined.

Collingwood Fire Department crews responded to a call at the former Pie Wood Fired Pizza Joint restaurant Oct. 2 at about 8:15 p.m. Upon arrival, firefighters saw flames and heavy smoke coming from the roof area.

No injuries were reported, but there was about $100,000 in damage to the building’s interior, roof and attic, Fire Chief Ross Parr told Simcoe.com Saturday morning.

Pie had operated on the premises, at , for six years before closing the location in May. The restaurant’s lease had expired, but with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, business also .

“It’s hard to hang on to a 6,000-square-foot restaurant when it’s just takeout,” co-owner Craig Russell said in an interview in the spring. “We’re not confident that the occupancy levels will be the same once COVID calms down. We thought it was best to sit tight.”

Pho Le, an Asian cuisine restaurant, has since taken over the space.

Pie still operates restaurants in Barrie, Midland and Muskoka.

— With files from John Edwards