Tops reopens Summer location after systemwide look at safety
Tops Bar-B-Q location on Summer Avenue at National Street has reopened after a fire caused by mechanical issues in October caused the restaurant to close. (Courtesy Tops Bar-B-Q)
Tops Bar-B-Q & Burgers reopened one of its Summer Avenue stores Wednesday, May 7, after a fire broke out at the location last fall. And the reopening brings a “fresh, systemwide look at fire safety” with it.
Randy Hough, Tops Bar-B-Q CEO, said the company addressed all the damage from the October fire at 3353 Summer Ave. but also took the opportunity to update other aspects of the circa 1960s building’s infrastructure.
“The result is a refreshed space that preserves the Tops Bar-B-Q experience our guests love, with added updates behind the scenes to ensure long-term safety and reliability,” he said.
According to Hough, the fire stemmed from mechanical issues and caused smoke and water damage throughout the building’s interior.
Two other area Tops locations also caught on fire over the past year, and the suggested cause of those blazes was also mechanical issues.
With the Summer location reopening, Hough said the company has enhanced preventive maintenance protocols and worked with fire safety and mechanical experts to audit equipment and systems at all locations.
“While each incident was unrelated and due to unique circumstances, they prompted us to take a fresh, system-wide look at fire safety,” Hough said. “The safety of our team members and guests is our top priority, and we’re committed to doing everything we can to prevent future incidents.”
The Tops Bar-B-Q restaurant on Thomas Street in Frayser caught fire in November 2024 while the one on Rhodes Avenue near Getwell Road caught fire in February 2025. They are both still temporarily closed.
Hough said the company did not yet have opening dates for the restaurants but that they are working diligently to reopen them.
“Construction timelines are always fluid depending on many different factors, some of which are beyond our control,” Hough said. “We expect to share opening dates for these locations in the near future.”
Although the Summer Avenue location near National Street was closed for six months, Hough said customers were “very understanding,” especially since there is another Tops down the road at 4183 Summer Ave.
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Sophia Surrett
Sophia Surrett is a University of Alabama graduate, where she received her B.A. in news media and M.A. in journalism and media studies. She covers small business, nonprofits, restaurant real estate, hospitality and tourism, manufacturing, and transportation and logistics.
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