Why Fire Trucks, Deputies Were at Barnacles Last Night (Aug. 3)

Last night fire trucks and deputy cars, with their red and yellow lights, were parked outside Barnacles in Brandon, a sight that surely raised the curiosity of diners at restaurants across the street and motorists driving by on Providence Road.

What caused the response, and a request of patrons to kindly leave the restaurant for the night, was an unusual smell in the kitchen that concerned restaurant management enough to call for help.

But manager Gina Ortiz said there was nothing further to be alarmed about, and that the decision to vacate was based on the premise that "we'd rather be safe than sorry."

"I can neither confirm nor deny anything just because we're not sure what's going on," she said outside the restaurant Aug. 3, on the night the incident happened. "Safety is our number one priority."

"Based on common sense and word of the fire marshal, and to make sure everyone is safe, we had everyone leave the building," she added.

Barnacles will be ready for business, though, today, with drink and food specials to accompany its commitment to give customers from Greater Brandon and beyond a great view of the Olympics.

"We're showing every event on each television screen, and obviously as requested, and put the sound on if requested," she said.

The restaurant has eight main projectors to go along with its rich array of flat-screens and televisions throughout the bar and restaurant, making Barnacles "a great place to watch the Olympics," Ortiz said.

"We've been running specials for the Olympics and we will until the Olympics are done," she said.

Moreover, she added, the Olympics will be running into the first pre-season game of the football season, which means Barnacles will be running another round of drink and food specials for the occasion.

Barnacles is at 926 Providence Road in Brandon.