Fire on Argyle

I just saw on the Tribune website that there was an extra alarm fire this morning on the 1100 Block of W. Argyle. It said several businesses were destroyed. The 1100 block, if I'm not mistaken, is between Kenmore and Winthrop. There are so many good places over there inclucing Sun Wah on the north side as well as Hai Yen on the south side of the street. I hope neither of these were directly affected.

More coverage of the story can be found here

http://cbs2chicago.com/topstories/little.vietnam.fire.2.788859.html

Apparently, Mien Hoa and Vinh Tho were affected and their addresses are 1104-1114 W Argyle.

Thank god, it appears Sun Wah is ok.

Thank god my carryout from Sun Wah las night did not become a "memorable meal"

This could very well be a "You know you're an LTH'er when:"

After reading the headline on the Trib website, my first thoughts turned to Sun Wah et al. Then while daydreaming on the El platform I found myself hoping that it got that depressing little abandoned bar, the Red Rooster.

[Merged by moderator]

Anybody know which restaurants were destroyed?

Businesses lost in extra-alarm Uptown blaze
Red Line service at Argyle station temporarily put off track

THE BLOTTER
9:20 AM CDT, August 6, 2008
Two restaurants were destroyed Wednesday morning by an extra-alarm fire in Uptown, fire officials said.

No injuries were reported in the fire, which broke out shortly before 1 a.m. in the 1100 block of West Argyle Street in the city's Vietnamese commercial area, according to Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford.

The blaze started in a three-story building, which had a restaurant on the first floor, Chicago police said, citing preliminary information. WGN-Ch. 9 reported that the building houses six storefronts, four of which were destroyed. It said some residents in nearby apartments had to be evacuated because of thick smoke and the fast-moving flames.

The fire was upgraded to a second alarm about 1:15 a.m. and was brought under control at 3 a.m. About 120 firefighters responded to the scene.

The building is near the Argyle stop on the CTA Red Line. Trains in both directions bypassed the station for several hours while firefighters worked at the scene, spokeswoman Kim Myles said. A bus shuttle was put in place from Thorndale to Addison to supplement train service, she said.

Normal train operations resumed by 6 a.m., Myles said.

The cause of the blaze was under investigation.

Jeremy Gorner, Tribune reporter

East of Argyle El tracks, North side of street

(8.6.08)

Damn, I just ran by there 40 min ago, saw the fire damage and thought to myself - 'Hey I need to post this fire on LTH when I get back.'

- lol

Sharona wrote:Mien Hoa and Vinh Tho were affected and their addresses are 1104-1114 W Argyle.

Yup. Mien Hoa and Vinh Tho are (or, were) at 1110 and 1112 W. Argyle, respectively. Based on the photo, it appears that Tien Giang, at 1104 W. Argyle, was also affected.

G Wiv wrote:East of Argyle El tracks, North side of street

(8.6.08)

G, you need to change your signature line for that post.

Let me preface this by stating that I understand the above-posted sentiments and mean no disrespect to the posters' opinions.

While being thankful for the non-demise of Sun Wah, let's also remember that, although possibly not our favorite restaurants or businesses on the block, several families have lost their livelihoods. A neighborhood rich in culture is a bit poorer.

Jeff

Mhays wrote:

G Wiv wrote:East of Argyle El tracks, North side of street

(8.6.08)

G, you need to change your signature line for that post.

Mhays-

I literally LOL'd at your post. Thanks for the laugh!

thanks to all of you for the phone calls, posts, etc., showing your love and concern for our restaurant. although we are glad it was not us, we are most saddened by the loss of three very fine businesses on argyle. putting aside my own personal feelings for one of them, we are indeed hurt to see that these three businesses are unsalvageable. speculations are abounding already but since we know the family that runs mien hoa and at least one of the building owners of those store fronts, after this mess is sorted out, mien hoa will be back. they have already stated they would do so and we eagerly await their return. we have not heard the cause of the fire yet so there is still no news of how this misfortune was started. we are grateful to hear that the nail supply store next to tien giang was not affected, otherwise, this may have turned into a bigger tragedy if their supplies had lit up. as for how business went today, let me just say, we are confused whether to applaud or sue the fire department. they are indeed professionals and prevented the fire from spreading or becoming a tragedy. unfortunately, they returned five times after leaving officially when the fire was brought under control, blocking the street and preventing traffic from entering argyle, thus leaving us with meager pickings on business. for those who came to sun wah today and drove, yay for you because i'm sure you found plenty of parking on argyle! the running joke in the restaurant today is that we should sue the fire department for the loss of profits because of their ineptitude in putting out the fire completely while the neighbors should give them an award for doing their jobs and preventing a tragedy. all of the funnies aside, we are glad that everyone was safe and sound. our thoughts and best wishes are with those who have been affected by the fire and we eagerly await their return to argyle.

kelly

Kelly,

We did dine at Sun Wah last night and your post is extremely accurate! As my wife and I looked for a place to park around 6pm we noticed the area blocked off from the fire and several open meters. We parked on Argyle right in front of Tank noodle. We then walked over to Ba Le for sandwiches to take home for Lunch the next day and when we came out the streets were blocked off and 2 fire trucks showed up. We continued eating and snacking around the area and they left within a half an hour. My wife and I and our 11 month old daughter then came to Sun Wah for our awesome dinner! Our daughter enjoyed roast duck, BBQ pork and curried noodles for the first time! I truly enjoyed watching you describe and carve the whole roast duck tableside for the 2 gentleman a few tables away! Keep up the great work! Our meal was fabulous.

Thanks,
Danny

LTH,

Stopped at Agyle to snap a few pictures, posted upthread, and had a late Sun Wah lunch of shrimp wonton soup w/noodles and roast pork. Topped with a generous helping of Sun Wah's tasty table chili oil my brimming bowl made for a terrific $5.25 meal.

Shrimp Wonton Soup w/noodles and roast pork



Enjoy,
Gary

Sun Wah
1134 W Argyle St
Chicago, IL 60640
773-769-1254

It bears stating again - GWiv's signature (Low and Slow) had me coughing up my egg sandwich a minute ago.

jbambuti wrote:Let me preface this by stating that I understand the above-posted sentiments and mean no disrespect to the posters' opinions.

While being thankful for the non-demise of Sun Wah, let's also remember that, although possibly not our favorite restaurants or businesses on the block, several families have lost their livelihoods. A neighborhood rich in culture is a bit poorer.

Jeff

Amen. I've been thinking this ever since I saw this thread appear and trying to think of a diplomatic way to say it. Yes, we are grateful that Sun Wah--and many others--were spared. But at least two families' businesses were destroyed and they may well have no income until they are up and running again, whether on Argyle or elsewhere. This is not a matter of "sigh of relief" and back to business as usual. Thank you for posting.

Gypsy Boy wrote:Amen. I've been thinking this ever since I saw this thread appear and trying to think of a diplomatic way to say it. Yes, we are grateful that Sun Wah--and many others--were spared. But at least two families' businesses were destroyed and they may well have no income until they are up and running again, whether on Argyle or elsewhere. This is not a matter of "sigh of relief" and back to business as usual. Thank you for posting.

Hopefully (probably) they had insurance, which should pay them for the lost income until they can get back up and running again.

whiskeybent wrote:This could very well be a "You know you're an LTH'er when:"

After reading the headline on the Trib website, my first thoughts turned to Sun Wah et al. Then while daydreaming on the El platform I found myself hoping that it got that depressing little abandoned bar, the Red Rooster.

I always wondered about that dive bar was possibly once like, everytime I occasionally walk by there. Anyway, does anyone know how long has that bar been closed for?

Though I will also agree with another LTHer above that I wish the fire had occurred in this space, instead of the building east of the 'L. *sighs*

I always wondered about that dive bar was possibly once like, everytime I occasionally walk by there. Anyway, does anyone know how long has that bar been closed for?

It was dismal. Terribly depressing - like drinking in the closet with the lights out.

I stopped in for a beer once in...thinking...late '04? It's been shuttered for at least 3 years though.

An old Chowhound thread mentions Red Rooster:

Can't think of any hillbilly-oriented spots at present. There is a bar, perhaps close to the Argyle el, called the Red Rooster I think. Anyone know its orientation?

If by "orientation" you mean pedigree, I couldn't say. Otherwise, its 'billy heaven, through and throughout.

I almost lost a tooth of my own, last time in.

whiskeybent wrote:

I always wondered about that dive bar was possibly once like, everytime I occasionally walk by there. Anyway, does anyone know how long has that bar been closed for?

It was dismal. Terribly depressing - like drinking in the closet with the lights out.

I stopped in for a beer once in...thinking...late '04? It's been shuttered for at least 3 years though.

Ah ok. Thanks for replying and answering my question, whiskey.

whiskeybent wrote:It was dismal. Terribly depressing - like drinking in the closet with the lights out.

I stopped in for a beer once in...thinking...late '04? It's been shuttered for at least 3 years though.

WB,

The Red Rooster was an armpit of a bar, joint smelled like urine and the urinal smelled like the bottom of a meat packers dumpster on a 90° day. The woman who ran the place was one of the meanest, in a break a dogs leg for chewing on the couch sort of way, I ever had the displeasure to encounter.

Calling the Red Rooster a dive bar does Dive Bars a disservice.

Enjoy,
Gary

G Wiv wrote:Stopped at Agyle to snap a few pictures, posted upthread, and had a late Sun Wah lunch of shrimp wonton soup w/noodles and roast pork. Topped with a generous helping of Sun Wah's tasty table chili oil my brimming bowl made for a terrific $5.25 meal..

Nice pic as usual. I set great store by Sun Wah's wontons. They always taste fresh (you can see them making them for you in the front upon ordering), and are quite handy for a cheap pre-Cubs game one-dish meal when you're running low on funds and time.

OTOH, I've had bad luck with their noodles which can gum up into one stringy mass -- it's like biting into a giant rubber band ball. Solution: just the order the wontons.

G Wiv wrote:

whiskeybent wrote:It was dismal. Terribly depressing - like drinking in the closet with the lights out.

I stopped in for a beer once in...thinking...late '04? It's been shuttered for at least 3 years though.

WB,

The Red Rooster was an armpit of a bar, joint smelled like urine and the urinal smelled like the bottom of a meat packers dumpster on a 90° day. The woman who ran the place was one of the meanest, in a break a dogs leg for chewing on the couch sort of way, I ever had the displeasure to encounter.

Calling the Red Rooster a dive bar does Dive Bars a disservice.

Enjoy,
Gary

Returning the favor, Gary, how were the portions?