HOUSTON — The owners of a Galleria-area business are hoping Houston police can identify a man who was caught on camera trying to set their hookah bar on fire. Surveillance video captured most of the incident around the Uptown Lounge on Richmond Ave near Chimney Rock.
“I really can’t think of anything that would give anyone the angst against us,” one owner told us. For their safety, the owners asked us not to use their names.
They called the Houston Police Department to file a report after an employee noticed burn marks on the side of the building.
“It’s shocking. We try to be as nice to everybody and not have any problems. Now, someone trying to do this and take our livelihood away from us, it's crazy."
The owners say that before 6 a.m. on Saturday, a man is seen on surveillance video tossing a gas can and jumping over the fence from a nearby business. He walked through the parking lot and poured what appeared to be gasoline around the building. The owners said the guy also poured the liquid near an emergency exit with propane tanks nearby.
“He poured extra over there, you can still smell it probably. He walked all the way around, his intention is obviously to burn it down. We never had any bad business with anybody, for anyone to come here and do this. It’s shocking."
The man who appeared to be wearing a blue cut-off hoodie and shorts walked behind the lounge and then ran away as the fire started.
The parking lot is scorched but the building wasn't badly damaged.
“Please do not burn down my building, let’s not ruin people’s lives here, there’s other things to do," the owner said. "I just want to know why."
The case has been referred to the Houston Fire Department’s arson division.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police.