Published: May 06, 2008 10:28 am            

Steinert's a total loss

New Albany restaurant and tavern dates back to 1877

Steinert’s Grill and Pub was gutted by a fire early Monday morning, causing a total loss for the owners of the New Albany landmark. 

A fire that broke out at 4 a.m. Monday at Steinert’s caused much of the house-like structure to collapse during the blaze, as more than 50 firefighters worked to put it out.

“There were a lot of high spots, a lot we couldn’t get to,” said Battalion Chief Brian Gadd, with the New Albany Fire Department. “It was offense and defense, at some points we were winning and others we were losing.”

Engine Six, located at the corner of Charlestown Road and Twin Oaks Drive, was the first to respond to the fire. Gadd said the crew there could see the flames from the station.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, Gadd said. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the fire marshal also were at the scene investigating the cause of the fire. Investigators have not speculated on a cause.

Matt Juliot, NAFD fire chief, called the structure a total loss and said the building would have to be razed. Firefighters were on the scene late into Monday picking though the building.

One firefighter was reported injured — a cut to the hand area — but is OK.

The restaurant and tavern opened at a different location in 1877 and spent more than 120 years in the Steinert family, including decedents Jane, Joe and Jim Steinert. The Steinerts sold the business in 1999, and some family members stood at the scene Monday grieving the loss.

“It’s just like losing a member of the family,” Jane Steinert said in a WLKY interview. “We had a lot of good times here — a lot of young people who have had marriages come out from meeting here.”

Jim Steinert said he used to live above the business and “grew up there.”

“I was fifth generation,” Joe Steinert said. “We passed it on down through the years. It was hard to sell and this is really hard to take.”

Current owner Jerry Roby Jr. said the business would be virtually impossible to replace.

“We are devastated right now,” Roby said.

— Staff writers Stephanie Mojica, Melissa Moody and Daniel Suddeath contributed to this report. Additional information was provided by WLKY-TV in Louisville.

        

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