Corner Connection Bar To Reopen After Christmas Eve Fire

The unfinished bar didn't have any stools bellied up to the edge, the bar top still had rough edges around the perimeter, and the floor was bare.

A number of construction workers drank at the bar, 6961 Douglas Avenue, before a the building, killed Mark Stroede and burned their friend David Peters at 1:32 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 24. Caledonia Fire Chief Dick Roeder said the fire was accidental in nature and started in the kitchen in the area of the stove.

Now, those customers are working hard to restore the building, which is set to reopen on April 2, said Duke Jankovic, the owner.

"I loved the bar the way it was," he said. "We had a number of loyal customers. And now we're looking to re-open. These are difficult circumstances. It was destroyed, so what do you do? I had no choice but to rebuild."

Jankovic said the bar is being restored to the way it was and his customers are pretty excited, too.

Peters, who lived above the bar the night of the fire, suffered from burns to his body and he was in critical condition at St. Mary's Hospital in Milwaukee. Now, he's living with a friend and visits the construction site often because he and Jankovic are friends. He's still in pain, and sees a doctor frequently for it, but for the most part Peters is healing. Mentally, though, he struggles.

"I miss my friend (Stroede) everyday," Peters said. "But it's a good thing to see this place. I'm glad to see them back."