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BEVIER, MO. -- We now have some new information on last week's raging fire that destroyed the popular Pear Tree restaurant and Black Diamond Museum in Bevier, Missouri.

Bevier Fire Chief David Coleman said state fire investigators have ruled out foul play in the blaze.

He said they determined the fire started in the attic of the Pear Tree's Rainbow Room, a banquet area that shared a wall with the Black Diamond Museum, which was also leveled by Thursday morning's fire.

Investigators suspect the cause may be electrical, but the damage was too extensive for them to be able to figure that out for certain, so the cause will officially go in the books as "undetermined."

As far as the future of The Pear Tree, that remains up in the air right now.

The restaurant's operations manager, Cole Mitchell, told KTVO Monday afternoon that Pear Tree managers have decided to put off a decision until early next year.

He said December is by far The Pear Tree's busiest month, and one of their main concerns right now is accommodating the 150 Christmas parties that had reservations at The Pear Tree.

Mitchell said they should be able to serve those parties at their sister restaurant, AJ's in Macon.

The Pear Tree always closed down for the month of January anyway, so Mitchell says once they get through December and January, they will sit down in February and discuss possible future plans for The Pear Tree.

Co-owner Mike Abbadessa told KTVO that in the interim, they will be adding more Pear Tree menu items to the menu at AJ's so he says patrons can look forward to that in the near future.

Abbadessa also said he has had numerous offers from all over northern Missouri from people with old building where he could locate The Pear Tree if they decide to continue the restaurant.


Previous stories....

Bevier mayor reflects on Pear Tree, museum loss  -  Thursday, November 29, 2012 
An overnight blaze destroys the Pear Tree and Black Diamond Museum.

Inferno destroys The Pear Tree, Bevier museum  -  Thursday, November 29, 2012 
The blaze gutted both buildings, which were located on the main drag through Bevier, Mo.