After the Fire and the Boarding all was quiet, and it may stay that way
for months.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago photo
Cucina Paradiso
Destroyed by Flames
by Ed Vincent
The fire is said to have started around 2:00 a.m. on
June 20th, a Wednesday. When the fire was called in it
was determined to be a "Box" alarm, basically meaning
that there was the potential for lots of spreading fire damage
and human life in jeopardy. When the Box alarm was called
Berwyn sent fire personnel to cover one of Oak Park's stations
while it deployed to the site. North Riverside, Cicero, River
Forest, and Forest Park arrived with Oak Park to battle the
flames. The adjoining businesses were protected with lots
of attention given to the common areas where fire could
transfer. All the people were accounted for as the first priority
and then ceilings were opened to prevent the spread of the fire
to an adjacent building behind Cucina Paradiso (even though
they were separated by a brick wall they shared a common roof
structure.)
All official sources are calling the events leading to the start of
the fire as "undetermined", and that may also mean that they
are never fully determined.
After the fire, only the horse outside remains unchanged.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago photo
Nick Gambino is hoping that all will be put right so that they
can open their business within the next two months or less.
They were waiting for the Oak Park building inspectors to
arrive when we had a moment to speak with the two brothers.
Anthony and Nick were both very grateful for all the support
and kindness expressed to the both of them and noted that their
emails were already backed up with unanswered letters. They
said that they did have their voice answering machine recording
and messages should be left there ( 708-848-3434 ).
Nick told me that the latest theory about the start of the
fire was that off of the alley (an entrance now boarded over),
was a door that led to the kitchen and there was also a linen
room there that might have been ignited by a cigarette. Some
reports are calling this area an alcove, and other reports by
news stations in the city had this event down as very suspicious.
The "very suspicious" aspects have now officially left the
dialogue, but when large sums of money are involved regarding
insurance payments the insurance investigators will want to know everything about everyone and then some. Common questions to
be answered will cover things like the business cash flow, was the burglar alarm activated at or around the time of the fire, were accelerents used that only experts know how to use? (the kind dogs
don't have a clue about)
Cucina Paradiso, 814 North Blvd., Oak Park,
Illinois 708-848-3434
Link to Cucina Paradiso Catering Service---Still in SERVICE.
PAST STORIES ON CUCINA PARADISO BELOW:
http://suburbanjournals.com/2006/2006-Cucina-Paradiso-911.html
2005-Cucina-Paradiso-Sept-11th.html
2004-cucina-paradiso-second-annual-9-11-OPFF-event.html
2003-cucina-paradiso-sept-11-fundraiser.html
A LETTER FROM THE OWNERS
June 20, 2007
Last night, we received a phone call in the middle of the night to inform
us that our restaurant was on fire. Cucina Paradiso’s entire kitchen was
destroyed and much of our dining room suffered water and smoke
damage. We are obviously devastated and saddened that this has
happened but are extremely grateful to the Oak Park and Forest Park
firefighters for their quick response to the scene and for risking their
own safety to put out the fire. We are most thankful that no one was
injured in that process.
We are immediately turning our efforts to reopening the restaurant
as soon as possible. Our hope is to be back in business in the next 4-6
weeks but we obviously don’t have all the details yet. In the meantime,
we’re trying to find ways to provide work to as many of our 30 employees
as possible in our catering business, 2MayToz Event Catering.
We’ve been here in Oak Park for 12 years and have so many
wonderful and loyal customers and friends within the business community.
Thank you to everyone who has already called with their concern and
well wishes. We promise to keep you all updated.
Sincerely,
Anthony and Nick Gambino
Owners, Cucina Paradiso Restaurant
© Suburban Journals of Chicago
published by Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc.
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