Roof collapses at Atascadero A&W, injuring worker and temporarily closing restaurant
The Atascadero A&W restaurant was temporarily closed on Monday after part of the roof collapsed while workers were repairing it.
The incident occurred about 9:11 a.m. at the eatery near Highway 41, as crews were on top of the roof fixing a portion near the drive-through, said Battalion Chief Bill White of Atascadero Fire and Emergency Services.
A worker fell during the collapse and injured his ankles, although he didn’t require emergency transportation to the hospital, White said.
City officials red-tagged the A&W building, meaning it’s not safe for use until necessary repairs are made. The red sheet of paper announcing the closure was still taped to the restaurant as of about 12:30 p.m.
The A&W won’t reopen until tomorrow afternoon at the earliest, said Darin Giessinger, who co-owns the restaurant with his wife, Dot.
A structural engineer is evaluating the property, and workers will need to install scaffolding toward the front of the restaurant, Giessinger said. The drive-through likely won’t be open again until Wednesday or later, he said.
Once the building is deemed structurally secure, the A&W will be open while construction continues.
“We will be trying to open as soon as possible,” Giessinger said.
