A massive fire swept through Arawak Cay’s Fish Fry in Nassau on November 16, destroying Goldie’s Conch House and several neighboring restaurants, leaving the complex completely damaged.
The fire started at Goldie’s and spread rapidly through the wooden structures, consuming the renowned conch restaurant entirely while engulfing neighboring establishments including Rake and Scrape.
Six stalls were destroyed and two others extensively damaged as flames tore through the area over approximately one hour.
Eyewitnesses reported hearing popping sounds from gas lines and stored cooking materials as the fire intensified. The tightly packed layout of the Fish Fry, a group of low-key restaurants built on wooden stilts near Junkanoo Beach, rapidly spread.
One firefighter at the scene said, “Everything was too close, too connected. Once it jumped one stall, the rest didn’t stand a chance.”
One police officer sustained first-degree burns while responding to the emergency, but no deaths were reported.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, though authorities have identified the structural proximity of the buildings as a contributing factor.
Government officials are expected to conduct a full investigation into the incident.
Impact on Cruise Passengers
For cruise passengers planning Nassau port days, the loss of the Fish Fry represents a setback.
Located just beyond Junkanoo Beach, the Fish Fry was staple for authentic Bahamian cuisine.
Goldie’s Conch House, in particular, earned a reputation as “the king of conch” and attracted visitors seeking fresh conch salad, cracked conch, and traditional Bahamian fare prepared fresh daily.
A cruise passenger visiting the island on Sunday told a local reporter that, “Arawak Cay’s Fish Fry has been a family tradition for over a decade.”
Community Response
Goldie’s management released a statement showing resilience, noting that while the building was lost, no lives were lost and the community spirit remains strong.
“This chapter is painful, but it is not the end. We will rebuild, return, and come back stronger,” the statement said, promising updates on progress and ways customers can support the reopening effort.
Earlier this year, a fire at an apartment complex and Manila Grill restaurant in Nassau destroyed a crew favorite located just 900 feet from the newly built cruise port.
