OAK PARK, Ill. (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- A popular Oak Park restaurant went up in flames and caused extensive damage and the evacuation of several nearby buildings Tuesday morning.
The fire started around 9:30 a.m. at 1034 Lake Street, home to Delia's Kitchen, a nail salon and several apartments. Nearby residents tell WBBM they're heartbroken over the restaurant.
"Good food- it's a happy place. You know, it's it's just a gem. It's really a gem, so it's going to be a big loss," said one woman.
Summer Piggee has lived in Oak Park for 20 years and Delia’s Kitchen has become a part of her life.
“We are losing a big institution of not only a business but of a really a family — an Oak Park family,” Piggee said. “I believe everybody who lives here comes to Delia’s at least once a month. They have the best pancakes in the country.”
Veronica Ciobotaru, owner of the restaurant, had been taking her first day off in weeks on Tuesday when she got the phone call telling her the building was on fire.
A distraught Ciobotaru was on Lake Street Tuesday afternoon, watching firefighters from a nearby corner. She doesn’t know much about what could have started the fire.
“I don’t know what else I can tell you,” Ciobotaru said before walking off.
Piggee said she hopes they can rebuild and come back better. They survived pandemic-related shut downs and kept the majority of their staff employed while most where being laid off.
“Veronica has done so much for this community and we need to support her during this time,” said Piggee, who has developed a friendship with the owner over the years. “Like the Chicago Fire, we can rebuild.”
A GoFundMe page has already raised more than $8,000 for Delia's kitchen and its staff.
Firefighters from 12 neighboring communities managed to keep the flames from reaching other buildings and no one was hurt.
(WBBM Newsradio and the Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this copy.)
Related
