A four-alarm fire engulfed a local landmark, famous for its Detroit Red Wings fandom, early Tuesday morning.
Fire crews arrived at the Detroit Eatery at 389 Danforth Ave. near Chester Ave., shortly before 7 a.m. with flames “originating from the basement,” Deputy Fire Chief Mike McCoy said.
The fire escalated from two alarms to four alarms around 9 a.m. Police shut down Danforth Avenue between Logan and Jackman avenues as smoke blew through the city’s east end.
Smokes rises from Greektown’s Detroit Eatery on Tuesday morning (J. Diamond Daniel/Toronto Observer)
Firefighters struggled with the stubborn fire, bearing freezing temperatures for more than four hours. Crews were interchanged to enter the Fire Services’ rehabilitation truck to warm up and rehydrate. The frigid temperatures also caused fire equipment and surrounding streets to freeze, which were salted by the city. The flames were reported under control at about 11 a.m.
The cause of the fire is unknown and no injuries have been reported.
The eatery, named after the Detroit Red Wings, was located in the city’s Greektown for more than 60 years. Red Wings forward Kris Draper brought the Stanley Cup for a surprise visit in 1997, following the Wings’ NHL championship win. Red Wings memorabilia was the eatery’s decoration of choice and it is feared that the irreplaceable keepsakes have been destroyed in the flames.
Locals have refuse to give up on the famous Detroit Eatery.
A GoFundMe campaign, created by Vito Morelli, raised more than $4,000 within eight hours. In addition, the hashtag #detroiteaterystrong and the GoFundMe account trended throughout the day.
Area resident Sean Hines said he regularly dined at the eatery and spent Father’s Day there with his family in 2018.
Hines said it won’t be his last meal at the Detroit Eatery. “I will be there again in six months.”