It is a tough break for the Bartow community, but the spirit of the “Pit” is clearly still burning. After the devastating fire on January 7, 2026, which leveled the building at 595 N. Broadway Ave, the plans for a comeback are already in motion.
The Incident Recap
The fire broke out early on a Wednesday morning. A pitmaster arriving for the morning shift discovered the blaze after hearing a “popping” sound from the attic. Despite the efforts of the Bartow Fire Department and Polk County Fire Rescue, the roof collapsed, resulting in a total loss of the structure that had been a local staple since 1992.
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