2 Months After Fire, Manhattan's Midtown Bar & Grill Set To Reopen

MANHATTAN, IL — Manhattan's Midtown Bar & Grill is set to reopen this week, two months after a fire heavily damaged the interior

Co-owner Kevin Schuster said the kitchen and equipment within it sustained extensive damage in the Feb. 9 fire, which the State Fire Marshal ruled was caused by the spontaneous ignition of oil-soaked rags. Most of the bar's liquor supply also had to be discarded, Schuster said.

With drywall up, repairs made and shelves freshly restocked, they'll reopen Thursday, April 9, Schuster told Patch Monday.

"We replaced all of our kitchen equipment," Schuster said. "The Village was great—whatever we needed to do, they were definitely supportive."

Video shows the fire started at 2 a.m. Feb. 9. The Manhattan Fire Protection District was called at 6:30 a.m. for a reported fire in the strip mall at 100 S. State St. Crews encountered heavy smoke and a kitchen fire at the bar, extinguishing it within 15 minutes.

An investigation into the source was led by Manhattan Fire Protection District fire investigators, with assistance from the New Lenox Fire Protection District fire investigators, the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The fire was ruled accidental the next day, with investigators pinpointing spontaneous ignition of rags soaked in cooking oil as the cause.

The bar has been closed since, missing out on revenue from Irish Fest, the town's milestone event.

"That was definitely a setback," Schuster told Patch, "but the overwhelming support of people coming by to check in on us—that was nice. A lot of people have reached out in the grocery store, even. A lot of overwhelming support to us to help us out. Very grateful for that."

The damage was overwhelming for Schuster.

"The entire kitchen was destroyed," he said. "Everything was burnt. Smoke damage is real—that gets everywhere."

State law also mandated that Schuster discard all alcohol within the space. In Illinois, bars must destroy fire-damaged liquor because high temperatures can cause containers to shatter, sealants to fail and liquids to boil, while smoke contaminates the product with toxic soot. Selling such "distressed merchandise" violates health codes and state regulations requiring, among other things, that labels remain intact and legible, as specified in Ill. Admin. Code tit. 11, § 100.150 - Salvaged Alcoholic Liquors.

In addition to replacing the liquor, the bar underwent extensive smoke and water damage remediation efforts, including air scrubbers. Air scrubbers use HEPA and activated carbon filters to remove toxic soot, ash and odors from the air.

"I learned a lot," Schuster said, of following all necessary steps to mitigate the damage. "What're you gonna do?"

Now he's eager to welcome people back to the space—which has some new touches he can't wait for customers to see—and get back to business as usual. The popular Veterans Breakfast—held the first Friday of the month— will return to the bar in May, and soon they'll start up a Queen of Hearts raffle to benefit local animal rescue group Cache Creek.

Schuster has been teasing the upcoming via the bar's social media.

"The Countdown Is ON! You’ve waited… You’ve asked…And now it’s almost time!" one post reads.

"Manhattan! We’ve missed you!" reads another. Get ready for cold drinks! Hot food! And even better nights!

"We’re bringing the energy, the vibes, and everything you love, just wait!"

Schuster said while he's been frustrated by the time it's taken to resume operations, he is grateful for the community's support.

"The support has been everything," Schuster said.

Manhattan Mayor Mike Adrieansen said the bar's reopening shows the resilience of its owners and town as a while.

"The reopening of Midtown after the recent fire really shows the strength and determination of our community," said Adrieansen. "What could have been a long setback turned into an opportunity for everyone to pull together, rebuild, and come back even stronger.

"I’m proud to support Midtown’s return, and I’m grateful to our first responders, the business owners, and the residents who all played a part in making this happen. This moment is a great example of what makes Manhattan special—when challenges come up, we stick together and move forward."

Midtown Bar & Grill will reopen at 1 p.m. Thursday, and resume regular hours of operation from that point.

Regular hours are:

• Monday–Thursday: 3 p.m. to 1 a.m.
• Friday: 1 p.m. to 2 a.m.
• Saturdays: 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
• Sundays: 8 a.m. to 1 a.m.