Nice's Coco Beach, the Cap de Nice institution destroyed by fire in July 2017, has begun reconstruction nearly a decade after the blaze reduced the freshly renovated restaurant to ashes.
Founded in 1936 by Jean-Baptiste Coco, a wholesale natural sponge merchant, the restaurant built its reputation on grilled fish and seafood, drawing diners with its uninterrupted view over the Baie des Anges. The 2017 fire broke out in the rotisserie section just a week after the restaurant reopened following an extensive renovation, and around 35 firefighters battled the blaze for several hours before bringing it under control.
Owner Pierre Quirino said the reconstruction, now underway, will rebuild the restaurant to its original design, with the work expected to take eight to ten months to complete.