Checker Bar in downtown Detroit’s Cadillac Square area suffered damage from an early morning fire on Tuesday.
A post on the Checker Bar Facebook page said the fire started in the basement’s electrical room and “due to what appears to have been an explosion originating outside of the building.”
Firefighter crews responded in less than 5 minutes to a 4:13 a.m. 911 call, a Corey McIsaac, Detroit Fire Department spokeswoman, said. The fire was cleared just after 6 a.m. this morning, McIsaac said. It is under investigation.
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Checker Bar’s Facebook post expressed that they are grateful for the fire department’s “swift response” and are “committed to rebuilding and coming back stronger.”
Now closed, the bar’s fire comes at a time when downtown Detroit is experiencing more foot traffic from the Detroit Auto Show at Huntington Place and the upcoming Saturday NFL playoff matchup between the Detroit Lions and the Washington Commanders at nearby Ford Field.
Located at 124 Cadillac Square, Checker Bar is only a few minutes walk to Ford Field.Its menu features a variety of classic bar food including burgers, pizza, and wings with items locally sourced, according to its website. Checker Bar’s sister restaurant is Grand Trunk Pub on Woodward Avenue. Messages were left for owner Timothy Tharp, owner of the Grand Trunk Pub.
Contact Detroit Free Press food and restaurant writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news and tips to: sselasky@freepress.com. Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter. Subscribe to the Free Press.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: A fire in the basement electrical room closes Detroit’s Checker Bar