LD’s Filling Station in Mason City, damaged by arson in 2022, will soon reopen

(ABC 6 News) – A Mason City, Iowa, restaurant that was damaged by arson in March 2022, will soon be reopening, according to a Facebook post.

LD’s Filling Station Bar & Grill, located in the 600 block of 12th St. NE, closed indefinitely on March 18, 2022 due to arson.

Lil Robert Vincent Barnes, 28, of Mason City, set fire to the restaurant on March 17, 2022. He also stole a coin machine from K&R Car Wash on March 14, 2022, and set fire to the Coin Laundry Center on March 20, 2022.

RELATED: Man charged in connection with fires at two Mason City businesses

No exact date was given, but LD’s Filling Station posted on Facebook Tuesday afternoon that they will be reopening “soon” and that residents will be seeing a lot of cars and activity this week around the restaurant as they train employees.

In October 2022, Barnes pleaded guilty on two counts of 2nd-degree arson and one count of first-degree theft. Other charges, 1st-degree burglary, 2nd-degree burglary, and ongoing criminal conduct – unlawful activity were dismissed as part of the plea.

In December 2022, Barnes received three consecutive 10-year prison sentences which he is serving.