KIESTER — The Kee Kafe in Kiester was damaged by fire this morning, according to the Faribault County Sheriff’s Office.

The cafe, which opened in May, is owned by Michele Knutson and Tammy Henthorne.

The fire reportedly began after 2 a.m., said Nicole Swanson, owner of the Kiester Courier-Sentinel.

The cafe did not sustain any exterior damage, and the fire appears to be electrical in nature, Swanson said. The building has been closed off and the owners are awaiting the arrival of an insurance adjuster and fire investigator.

The restaurant’s Facebook page states the cafe will be closed indefinitely. People commented how the community needs the restaurant.

Knutson and Henthorne purchased what used to be the old Brickhouse Pizza building around mid-March after the building had sat empty for 3 1/2 years. They cleaned, painted, gutted the basement, completed duct work and updated the electrical prior to opening.

The grand opening was May 6. Half of all proceeds from opening night were donated to Kiester for a Cure, a local nonprofit group that raises money to help local people affected by cancer.

The restaurant offered meals similar to the kind cooked at home, the owners told the Tribune in May.

The Kiester Fire Department could not be reached this morning. No other information was available as of press time.