(WBBM NEWSRADIO) – A regular customer of the Palace Grill is leading an effort to help the Near West Side diner get back to business after a fire.
A fire on Feb. 8 heavily damaged the beloved Madison Street restaurant, which is popular with the Blackhawks fan base because of its proximity to the United Center.
Now, Katrina Vlasich, one of those fans, is giving back to the historic diner, which dates back to the late-1930s.
She said restaurant owner George Lemperis was initially reluctant to go along with the idea because it might appear like he was begging for help.
“I said, ‘George, this isn’t you asking, this is people wanting to do it,’” Vlasich tells WBBM Newsradio.
Her fundraiser on the Go Fund Me platform seeks $15,000 to help the business and its employees as the restaurant recovers from the devastating event.
Listen to our new podcast Looped In: Chicago
Listen to WBBM Newsradio now on Audacy!
Sign up and follow WBBM Newsradio
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok