Four family-owned businesses in uptown Lexington are navigating recovery and rebuilding efforts after a fire on Tuesday caused significant damage, leaving a stretch of Main Street closed. Stephanie Huynh, whose husband owns Shoto Japanese Steakhouse, said the fire has left their establishment unrecognizable. “There is the horrible green sticker on our door that says condemned. And that’s really hard to see. Especially for the neighboring businesses that were also affected,” Huynh said. Shoto, a community staple for Asian cuisine in Lexington for 25 years, was originally established by Huynh’s in-laws in 2001. Her husband, Daniel, and his brother, Jimmy, later took over the restaurant and upstairs speakeasy.”We’ve worked really hard over the last couple of years to bring more of our Asian culture and our Vietnamese culture to this town, because it’s who we are. If the town loves a certain restaurant for 25 years, we’re going to dig our heels in and bring it back,” Huynh said. Huynh expressed gratitude for the community’s support during this challenging time. “The hugs, the tears, the thoughts and prayers. I know the Lexington Farmers Market here in town. We’re really close with them. And they’re doing a wonderful fundraiser on Saturday for the candy factory and for Shoto,” she said. Three generations of the Huynh family, along with their employees, depend on the restaurant, and Huynh acknowledged the recovery process will be lengthy. “This is going to look like a two-year journey, but we are going to rebuild,” she said. “We are talking with insurance and fire and everybody involved because, of course, there’s all the immediate paperwork, and we have to wait for structural integrity. We cannot get into the building yet, and we don’t know if it will be this week or not.”As they work to rebuild, Huynh said they are exploring ways to continue serving food in the interim. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and the city of Lexington has been contacted regarding the structural status of the affected buildings.Watch: NOWCAST streaming newscastsNAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Watch NOWCAST TV | Local News | National | News We Love |Keep up with the latest news and weather by downloading the WXII app here

LEXINGTON, N.C. —

Four family-owned businesses in uptown Lexington are navigating recovery and rebuilding efforts after a fire on Tuesday caused significant damage, leaving a stretch of Main Street closed.

Stephanie Huynh, whose husband owns Shoto Japanese Steakhouse, said the fire has left their establishment unrecognizable.

“There is the horrible green sticker on our door that says condemned. And that’s really hard to see. Especially for the neighboring businesses that were also affected,” Huynh said.

Shoto, a community staple for Asian cuisine in Lexington for 25 years, was originally established by Huynh’s in-laws in 2001. Her husband, Daniel, and his brother, Jimmy, later took over the restaurant and upstairs speakeasy.

“We’ve worked really hard over the last couple of years to bring more of our Asian culture and our Vietnamese culture to this town, because it’s who we are. If the town loves a certain restaurant for 25 years, we’re going to dig our heels in and bring it back,” Huynh said.

Huynh expressed gratitude for the community’s support during this challenging time.

“The hugs, the tears, the thoughts and prayers. I know the Lexington Farmers Market here in town. We’re really close with them. And they’re doing a wonderful fundraiser on Saturday for the candy factory and for Shoto,” she said.

Three generations of the Huynh family, along with their employees, depend on the restaurant, and Huynh acknowledged the recovery process will be lengthy.

“This is going to look like a two-year journey, but we are going to rebuild,” she said. “We are talking with insurance and fire and everybody involved because, of course, there’s all the immediate paperwork, and we have to wait for structural integrity. We cannot get into the building yet, and we don’t know if it will be this week or not.”

As they work to rebuild, Huynh said they are exploring ways to continue serving food in the interim.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and the city of Lexington has been contacted regarding the structural status of the affected buildings.

Watch: NOWCAST streaming newscasts

NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Watch NOWCAST TV | Local News | National | News We Love |

Keep up with the latest news and weather by downloading the WXII app here