ADEL — The owner of the Catfish House and an employee were charged Monday with arson in connection with a fire that destroyed the renowned restaurant near the Colquitt County line.

Peggy Lorraine Parr, 49, of Valdosta, who bought the restaurant last year, and Jennifer Barnes, 20, also of Valdosta, were charged with arson in the first degree following an investigation by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the state Fire Marshal’s Office.

The 11,200-square-foot restaurant burned to the ground Jan. 16. The loss was estimated at $850,000.

Barnes and Parr were released Monday on $10,000 bail apiece, a Cook County Jail spokesman said. Property was put up for bail, he said. The two could face 20 years in prison and fines.

Employees who were working the night of the fire said the last customers left about 9:30 p.m. Barnes and Parr were the only people inside when the last of the other employees left at 10:15 p.m., employees said.

By 10:24 p.m., the building was on fire.

The restaurant was opened in 1982 under the name “The Little River Barbecue and Fish.” Since then, it has gone through at least one other owner before Parr purchased it.

Serving seafood and steaks, the Catfish House commonly attracted residents around the area and out of state, and there was often a wait to be seated

But business slowed tremendously in recent months, neighbors and employees said.

Karen McGowan, who has lived beside the restaurant for three years, said she had certainly noticed a change in the numbers of customers.

“There used to be cars parked everywhere,” she said, pointing to a grass lot in front of her house.