Another April fire destroys business in downtown Grand Marais

UPDATE: The April 12 fire at Sydney’s Frozen Custard was determined to be an accidental fire following an investigation by officials from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety , according to Grand Marais Fire Chief Ben Silence.

A fire in downtown Grand Marais Monday morning resulted in the loss of another local business.

Sydney’s Frozen Custard, located at 14 Broadway Ave. in downtown Grand Marais, caught fire at approximately 11:10 a.m. Monday, April 10. Local law enforcement confirmed with WTIP the building will likely be a total loss. The interior damage to the building is extensive, though the building still stood Monday afternoon after the last of the flames were extinguished. Just hours before, large flames were visible coming from inside Sydney’s. At 11:40 a.m. thick plumes of smoke were pouring from the building. Twisting flames engulfed the building moments later, including beams supporting the front of the building near the main entrance to Sydney’s.

The cause of the fire is unknown at this time.

The fire did not spread to any nearby buildings, though some smoke damage is likely at Red Pine Realty, which is located next door to Sydney’s.

Sydney’s is known for its wood-fired pizzas and frozen custard. It is owned by Bruce Block, a local resident. It operates as a seasonal business, typically from May to October. It was not open today on the day of the fire.

Today’s fire comes nearly three years to the day from another fire in downtown Grand Marais. During that fire, which occurred on April 13, 2020, three buildings were destroyed, including another restaurant, the Crooked Spoon Café.

The fire at Sydney’s was contained by 1:40 p.m. WTIP’s Joe Friedrichs spoke on location with Grand Marais Fire Chief Ben Silence after the fire was extinguished and the scene was clear. Listen to their conversation in the audio below.

Joe Friedrichs April 10, 2023