Moncks Corner soul food restaurant ‘Rosetta’s’ damaged in fire

MONCKS CORNER, S.C. (WCBD) – A popular soul food restaurant in Moncks Corner is temporarily closed after it suffered significant damage during a Wednesday morning fire.

Rosetta’s Soul Food has been serving customers in Corner Square Plaza for about 10 years. The owner said she was devastated by the fire.

“I pretty much lost everything,” said owner Emma Smalls. “My mom was in here prepping- a fire kind of got too big for her. It got out of hand, and I was just glad she was able to get out.”

Her mother was cooking bacon when the fire began.

“I was getting ready to come in and I got the call from 9-1-1. Dispatcher told me I needed to get here, and when I got here, it was just pretty much gone,” Smalls said.

And for Smalls, her restaurant is her livelihood.

“It’s named after my mother, Rosetta. Pretty much took over this craft from her. We’ve been in this business in this town for about 20 years, and so it’s just southern comfort cooking. Good food like grandma’s cooking,” she said.

While the business does have insurance coverage, Smalls anticipates there will be more expenses than what insurance will cover. One contractor estimates it will cost about $100,000 to reopen the restaurant.

The restaurant is expected to be closed for some time. But Smalls said she does plan on reopening – she’s too invested in her business.

“It hurts me to come in here to look at this, to see this. It’s hurtful,” she said. “I’ve worked hard day and night, sun up, sun down. No sleep sometimes, just to try and keep it moving. Keep it running. This is my life, this is all I have.”

It could take six to eight months for Rosetta’s Soul Food to reopen.

If you would like to help, you can search “Please help Rosetta’s rebuild” on GoFundMe and click on the fundraiser by Randy Smalls.