A kitchen grease fire badly damaged a popular Mililani Italian restaurant just after closing, but no one was hurt.

• Firefighters arrived quickly and had the blaze under control within minutes, though the kitchen hood, fire suppression system and roof area were damaged.
• The dining room survived, which matters since the owner had just spent $150,000 renovating that space.
• The restaurant had only reopened on October 1, and the fire now threatens to wipe out December, its busiest and most profitable month.
• 25 to 30 employees have been told to file for unemployment while repairs are assessed, and the cause is still under investigation.

Outlook: The owner hopes to reopen within a month, pending contractor and insurance assessments, but there's no guarantee the restaurant will be back before the holidays.