Skooter's Fire Under Investigation: Troy Fire Chief

SHOREWOOD, IL — Fire crews responded to Skooter's Roadhouse, 700 W. Jefferson St., on Monday evening as the restaurant and nearby shopping center were reportedly evacuated. Smoke could be seen billowing from the restaurant as area firefighters responded to the scene.

No one was inside the building at the time of the fire, since the restaurant is closed on Mondays. In addition to the Troy Fire Protection District, about a dozen other area departments responded to the blaze.

Troy Fire Chief Andy Doyle told Patch a call reporting the fire came in at around 5:51 p.m. Firefighters who arrived on the scene saw smoke and flames coming from the southeast corner of the building, where it's believed the fire started.

Doyle said it took firefighters about 30 minutes to get the blaze under control. The cause of the fire has yet to be determined and is under investigation, he said.

According to Doyle, it would be some time, months at least, before Skooter's could reopen.

The bar and restaurant has seen its share of trouble and was shut down for four days at the beginning of 2017 for offering drink specials in violation of village code. In 2016, a Minooka MMA fighter/Skooter's bouncer and another man were charged in connection with a vicious beating that allegedly began outside of the Shorewood bar. A Shorewood woman was accused of stabbing another patron at Skooter's, and a Romeoville man was charged with assaulting the bar's owner.

On Oct. 27, the country and western bar was listed for sale for $699,750 as a "great opportunity" and "premier Country Destination in the Chicagoland area."

The blaze happened one day after Skooter's announced it had hired a new master chef via Facebook. "Introducing our new Master Chef Gerry Melendy, Jr.," read a post on the Skooter's page, which included the new chief's bio. "We are so thrilled to have him join our team! Up from Alabama he brings his southern flair with him. He was the chef for the Tennessee Titans Pro Football Team and Executive Chef for the University of Alabama! He's been working behind the scenes with us over the last month on everything! He's made some subtle changes and some not so subtle!"

Watch Now: Skooter's Fire Under Investigation

Photos submitted by Nichole Varley/used with permission

Joliet Patch editor John Ferak contributed to this report.