Berwyn's Autre Monde Cafe to be closed at least two months

An accidental fire Thursday morning was caused by an unattended grill

Thursday, June 28th, 2012 2:55 PM

Updated: Monday, July 2nd, 2012 3:25 PM

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By Devin Rose

Staff Reporter

An unattended grill at Autre Monde Café in Berwyn caused a fire Thursday morning that damaged the building's exterior and could keep the restaurant closed for a couple of months, the city's fire chief said.

According to Chief Denis O'Halloran, there was "pretty significant damage" to the outside of the building at 6727 W. Roosevelt Road. The fire department got a call shortly after 11:30 a.m. that the fire had started in an exterior rear corner next to the unattended grill. They brought in additional help from departments in Oak Park, Cicero, Forest Park and North Riverside.

O'Halloran said the accidental fire traveled to the siding and a fence before it was put out at about 12:20 p.m. The department made holes in the roof to let smoke out. The building also sustained water damage, the chief said. One Berwyn firefighter was treated at the scene for heat exhaustion as the temperature was nearly 100 degrees.

Restaurant staff were starting the day but there were no customers in the restaurant, O'Halloran said. He estimated the reconstruction would take a couple months.

Autre Monde is owned by Oak Parkers John Aranza and Christine Tully Aranza. In a statement Monday, Tully Aranza said they were relieved that no one was injured and they are working with recovery experts to determine how long they'll be closed.

Reader Comments

16 Comments - Add Your Comment

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Ray Johnson from Oak Park, Illinois Facebook Verified

Posted: June 29th, 2012 8:21 PM

We should all wish for the best and a quick reopening, as this has to be an incredibly difficult time for the owners and their staff.

Mares

Posted: June 29th, 2012 1:56 PM

@OP Person. Well said. Their website says they will be closed 6 weeks. Good restaurant, nice owners.

Oak Park Person

Posted: June 29th, 2012 12:39 PM

Autre Monde fire started accidentally with an identified origin. Velvet Fire set intentionally by unknown person with unknown motive. Apples and oranges.

May

Posted: June 29th, 2012 12:22 PM

And do you all know that as of January 1, 2013 all properties sold get hit with a 3 or 4% charge that goes for Obamacare?

Mark

Posted: June 29th, 2012 8:50 AM

Sad to hear. Denise, who used to work at Poor Phil's, left that establishment to take on more responsibilities and promise at Autre Monde. I hope Dennis lets her come back and work at Poor Phil's while they repair the fire damage. If so, we will eat at Poor Phil's more often, as Denise is a treasure.

Posted: June 29th, 2012 12:23 AM

Have to feel sorry for the libs - we were given a gift today as it was pointed out this is a huge tax especially on the middle class, which we already knew. Would have been a hard sell with congress already under duress to pass it as a tax instead of a "penalty". Should this law stand ultimately the libs will soon come to understand they'll have health insurance w/o quality care & rationing due to Dr shortage due to low reiimnursement. Obama lied- freedom & people will die.

Posted: June 28th, 2012 10:44 PM

"Just pass the bill, you can read it later."

Unfortunately

Posted: June 28th, 2012 10:32 PM

Let me get this straight. Both H8 and Marie Perkins use every one of their posts to either insult or take "nonsense" to an extreme level - and when Mares and Ray Simpson, with the exception of the 7:20 post, address their comments - they elevate the nonsense and insults? Straw-Man 101? BTW, have some compassion for us OP Conservatives. On top of being the never-ending punching bag of our oh-so-tolerant OP neighbors - today we learned that Obama lied to the nation about ObamaCare NOT being a tax!

Marie Perkins

Posted: June 28th, 2012 9:35 PM

You'll have to excuse mares. TEAbaggers aren't in such a good mood today what with one of their own betraying them.

Marie Perkins

Posted: June 28th, 2012 9:32 PM

No, are you related to John Boner?

H8 H8rs

Posted: June 28th, 2012 9:14 PM

WJ, why do you continue to allow blatant homophobic comments in this forum? Is it the same reason you always allow blatant racist comments in this forum? WTH is wrong with you people?

Ray Simpson from Oak Park Facebook Verified

Posted: June 28th, 2012 7:22 PM

Marie, How does someone torch a business from an unattended grill? Looks to me that the cause has been established and arson ain't it.

Mares

Posted: June 28th, 2012 7:20 PM

@ Marie. Are you related to Nancy Pelosi?

Marie Perkins

Posted: June 28th, 2012 7:01 PM

I agree with you H8. And now the excuses will pour in as to why it's different. Could be the same person who did it to the Velvet Rope. Both places were very popular and both torched within weeks of each other. Very suspicious.

Mares

Posted: June 28th, 2012 5:51 PM

@H8. Hey pride guy, huge difference. There were at least 4 employees working at the time. Did,nt happen when absolutely no one was around. Get the chip of your shoulder.

H8 H8rs

Posted: June 28th, 2012 4:21 PM

Waiting for all the haters who insisted that the Velvet Rope fire was insurance-arson to say the same thing regarding Autre Monde.

Find a garage sale near you!