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Aug 12, 2008 6:51 am US/Central
Fire Guts Restaurant Next To Dillinger Site
Fiesta Mexicana Is Adjacent To Alley Where John Dillinger Was Gunned Down
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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A fire broke out early Tuesday at the Fiesta Mexicana restaurant on Lincoln Avenue near Halsted Street and Fullerton Avenue.
CBS
A fire broke out early Tuesday at a Lincoln Park neighborhood Mexican restaurant, right next to the alley where John Dillinger was gunned down after leaving the Biograph Theatre.
Police were notified around 3:25 a.m. of a fire at Fiesta Mexicana, at 2421 N. Lincoln Ave. The fire started in a kitchen of the restaurant, according to a Belmont District police lieutenant, who said the fire was put out in about 15 or 20 minutes.
Lincoln and Fullerton avenues were both blocked as firefighters battled the blaze, but they had fully reopened by 5:30 a.m.
The rear area of the restaurant sustained serious damage. Though it was unknown when the restaurant would be able to re-open, foul play is not suspected and no injuries were reported.
The restaurant is steps away from the Biograph Theatre, which is now the main stage for the Victory Gardens Theatre. The restaurant is also adjacent to the alley where bank robber John Dillinger was gunned down by federal agents after leaving the Biograph on July 22, 1934.
In past years, the building housed a chop suey restaurant. True to history, Fiesta Mexicana was turned into a chop suey restaurant and watch retailer for the filming of the upcoming Johnny Depp movie about Dillinger, "Public Enemies." Awnings and a lit sign for Mee Wong Chop Suey appeared on the restaurant during the filming.
CBS 2's Kris Habermehl and the STNG Wire contributed to this report.
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