Fire badly damages Calumet Fisheries on Chicago's South Side
CHICAGO (CBS) -- The iconic Calumet Fisheries smokehouse along the Calumet River was severely damaged in a fire Tuesday afternoon.
The smokehouse, at 3259 E. 95th St., had just reopened after being closed because of a health inspection issue. As CBS 2's Marybel González reported, Calumet Fisheries now must close again – and during its busy season.
The fire broke out in large void in the upper area of the structure, the Chicago Fire Department said.
"You know, it's a tragedy for sure," said assistant manager Carlos Huerta.
Huerta said he and other staffers were working in the kitchen, when he noticed smoke coming out of one of the breakers.
"I closed down, and you know, we walked out - called the Fire Department," he said, "and when they got here, that's when, you know, the flames started going off."
The Chicago Fire Department deemed the fire an accident due an electrical issue, and described the damage left behind by the fire as "extensive."
"It's sad, you know, because we're pretty much family," said Huerta. "Some of us have been here a good amount of years. Same owner since the 1940s, the building itself since the 1920s."
The fire forced the seafood spot – a favorite among locals and celebrities alike – to close just days after it had reopened. The smokehouse recently was forced to close for repairs after failing a health inspection, but reopened over the weekend.
"It kind of sucks that, you know, we're probably going to have to be away for a while," Huerta said. "It doesn't just affect us - but our customers as well, because a lot of our customers come to get food, you know, to put on their table for the holidays."
The fire was out by about 2 p.m. Hours later, crews were already on the ground removing debris.
The owners of Calumet Fisheries told us via social media, "We are committed to reopening as soon as possible."
The message was echoed by manager Huerta, who has dedicated more than 11 years to the job.
"Not to worry too much, because we'll be back," Huerta said.
Calumet Fisheries is known for smoking its own food on site, housed inside a small shack along the 95th Street bridge over the Calumet River.
The smokehouse was first opened by brothers-in-law Sid Kotlick and Len Toll in 1948.
The famous sign on the side of the building advertises, "Finest french-fried shrimp, smelt fish, chips, oysters, catfish, smoked fish, chubs, salmon, sturgeon, trout, sable, eel."
Another sign out front displays a caricature of the John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd as the Blues Brothers. Calumet Fisheries did not actually appear in "The Blues Brothers" movie, but the smokehouse did host the movie crew during filming in the summer of 1979, when they used the 95th Street Bridge for a famous bridge jump scene.
Calumet Fisheries also appeared on the late Anthony Bourdain's "No Reservations" and WTTW-Channel 11's "Check Please!" and also received The American Classic Award from the James Beard Foundation. A caricature of Bourdain and the James Beard award also appear on the sign with the Blues Brothers.
