However, insurance usually won't pay off that easily.

I believe the owners are retiring to Florida
a nice payday

ThaNk YoU T. J. - that sounds correct, appreciate the reply.

Yada - They may have closed the comments because too much financial information about the owners was being disclosed. (This is hypocritical on the Gazette's part because the information was obtained by viewing public records.) But I tend to believe it was more because of the speculation of who dunnit based on this financial information.
I said from the beginning: No comment from the owners about rebuilding? Hhhhhhhhhmmmmmmmm...

Why did they close the other comments on this story????????? What is the area like where the restaurant located? Is it safe?

A thief broke in? A disgruntled customer?

Give me a break! It does not take a genius to figure out who started this fire...or the motive!

These restaurant fires are common! No arson team required!

Here is a hint: They will NEVER rebuild!

Stop speculating or the gazette gestapo will shut down the blog again

Since wild speculation seems to be a requirement in the blogs, I'd like to throw in 2 more options:

1. A disgruntled customer. Say, someone who was obviously drunk and refused service, or who was drunk and told to stop smoking or leave. They left and got more drunk and angry and came back after closing and torched the place.

2. A thief - broke in for drug money and found the register open and empty, all the booze locked up, and got angry and started the fire, or they cut themself breaking in or forgot to wear gloves and figured CSI Beloit might identify them if they didn't set fire to the place to destroy evidence.

I hope the police identify whomever did it quickly, to remove suspicions and allow the place to be rebuilt and employees jobs to be available.