A Coeur d'Alene restaurant will continue service as usual after an arson failed to have much impact.

Paul Wiles, owner of the Breakfast Nook, said the restaurant will open today after being closed on Monday, when remnants of a set fire were discovered.

Wiles said he smelled a strong odor of gasoline when he arrived around 4:45 a.m. to open the restaurant at 1719 N. Fourth St.

"As soon as I got out of the truck, I smelled it," Wiles said. "I thought something was up."

The scent was especially strong inside, he said, and he called 9-1-1. The Coeur d'Alene fire and police departments discovered a fire had occurred earlier, contained to a small area at the rear service entrance.

It was "pretty obvious" that it was arson, said fire Deputy Chief Glenn Lauper.

"They left all the stuff they used to set the fire," Lauper said.

That included matches and a gas can at the scene, according to the police department's press release.

But there was minimal damage, Wiles noted, with mostly just a "little bit of the wall" singed.

The building is insured, he added.

"It didn't ignite," Wiles said simply of the poor set-up. "It looks like anger issues against me."

A small amount of cash was also taken from the register, Wiles said, preferring not to disclose the amount.

Maybe the thief was trying to cover his tracks, he reasoned.

The restaurant has been broken into twice in the last several months, he added.

"This is the first time they attempted burning it up," Wiles said.

The Coeur d'Alene police press release stated that the incident remains under investigation, but investigators also believe the burglary is related to the arson.

Wiles said he isn't nervous about heading back to serve breakfast to his regulars.

He has been in the restaurant business for 30 years, he said, owning the Breakfast Nook since 2003, and has experienced break-ins before.

"Times are hard," he said.