Fire delays opening of donut cafe in West Portal [Video]

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) – A fire tore through five small businesses in San Francisco’s West Portal neighborhood on Thursday, leaving the business owners to pick up the pieces.

Georges Donuts & Merriment isn’t even open yet, and now it has had to scale back its first day. Despite the setback, owners are grateful to the firefighters who saved their dream from burning down.

Crews arrived to put out the flames Thursday afternoon on West Portal Avenue near Vicente Street. They worked for several hours until the fire was contained.

However, five businesses, including a salon, law office, comic book store and George’s, were damaged. They’re mostly cleaning up smoke and water damage seeping in from the ceiling and walls.

The donut cafe was set to open this month, but now they have to wait a little longer. Co-founder Lea Dudum says she was actually eating lunch across the street when she saw the smoke between the …