HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) -
A popular Midtown Harrisburg bar went up in flames Saturday morning, and now investigators believe it was arson.
Fire crews were called to Shady McGrady's on Verbeke Street around 4 a.m. for reports of heavy smoke.
Owner Giovanni Barone told abc27 the fire actually could have been much worse.
"We could have lost the whole building if they weren't here as quickly as they were," he said. "We could have easily lost the whole building. You have to think about all that alcohol -- all that liquor -- that we have in there. It could have been really really bad."
Barone said police later informed him it was arson.
"They let us know that someone took the register and we were robbed and someone set the place on fire," he said.
Barone said it's believed the fire started in the back of the bar on the first floor.
Verbeke Street and 2nd Street were closed down while crews put out the blaze.
"It's a shame, because it's a local bar," neighbor Marianne White said. "They support a lot of the local people around here -- they're good people who run it."
Barone said he hopes to be back in business in a month or two, but first he has to assess the loss.
"I'd say there is roughly over $100,000 worth of damage," he said. "Just thank goodness no one was hurt. I think that's the most important thing -- there's people living on both sides of this bar and no one got hurt. That's why we have insurance."
