Bet it was a torch job. Rumour has it the place was in trouble. Torch jobs always happen when the place is closed.

How sad! We have been going there for years and years!

I live in the complex right next door. I took video from my balcony. I will post it.

It doesnt appear that anyone got hurt, but After the recent death in Chicago. ALL BUILDINGS SHOULD HAVE FIRE SPRINKLERS!!!

This is shocking news to me. I have been there a few times and was thinking lately of going again. Guess not. I am very sorry for the restaurant, employees, neighbors, etc. As long as everyone is safe that is important.

Sorry to hear. Enjoyed the food and have been a regular for years.

We love going to this restaurant, I sure hope they rebuild.

Hopefully everyone's ok I talked to the owners daughter because she's my best friend and she said they're all doing ok and I'm pretty sure it wasn't a torch job >:/

I just spoke with the Fire Chief and he said there was one employee there at the time but made it out safely. The fire is believed to have started accidentally in the kitchen. I'll update the article soon.

Didn't seem to do much good having the fire department right across the street, lol

I hope they rebuild- where else would I get my flautas. The best mexican food I have ever had and will be a sad end if they don't rebuild. Yes we could go to the one on 45 or to Richton Park but it wouldn't be the same! PLEASE REBUILD!

Now that's hot sauce!

now what do i do with my restaurant.com coupon?

Does the coupon bear the cash value of 1/100 cent?
May as well trade it in for that if so. Otherwise they've got a special on smoked chicken.

Wow, very sorry to hear this happened. My only questions are, how in the world did the fire get so big if an employee was inside the restaurant, and how did it get that far out of control with the fire department directly across the street? Glad the employee made it out unharmed. Hope they will rebuild, good food and good service!!

"That's"! One Spicy Meat-Ball.!. >_>

Wasn't a "torch job Jeff " before you put your ignorance down in writing for all to see, you really should verify your facts. Seems slander comes easily for some these days. The owner of the restaurant is not the owner of the building. They would have more problems to deal with by torching it than they could even forsee if that were the case. Other nearby buildings were also effected, and they would have to answer to more than just the insurance co. in that case. I'm sure a real investigation will get to the bottom of it without your obvious prejudicial assistance.

I highly doubt it was a torch job. I hope they're able to rebuild it fast!

Unless it states a specific location, you should be able to use the certificates at another location.

Luckily there are plenty of places nearby that are vacant and restaurant worthy, hoping for a speedy grand reopening!

/

To the fine LA Cafe Family: Marc, Shelly, Patty, Jo, Jackie, Albert (Chuck) Lupe, Mita and all the day-timers, we regret the tragedy that has happened this morning and our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone as they begin the journey of putting it all back together. If there is anything that we can do, we are hear for you. Sincerely, Bill~Tammy~Billy

I don't think it was a tourch job. I think it was what most resturant fires are, a Greese fire.

I don't think it was a tourch job. I think it was what most resturant fires are, a Grease fire.

Those are hard to contain and spread rapidly

Dumb and malicious comment. Great people there and best Steak Fajitas in the world. Old old building and they go fast. Marc. So sorry and hope u can open somewhere soon. How bout old country mart/wilmer liquor in bowling alley mall. It's vacant

Great food and great people working there. I was one of their first customers when they opened and will be again when they re-open.

Yes it was a greese fire my dad was the only 1 in there and Marc knew that it was time 2 change the greese but never did!!! My dad only knows wat really happened!

So what does the age of a building have to do with having sprinklers installed. I expect a answer on this from Village leaders and the Patch. And for a point, all kitchens that are open to the public have a WORKING fire protection system that covers ALL cooking equipment. As for the cost of a installed sprinkler. What is the cost to put out the fire. How many firefighters were on the call, how many trucks were there. what do you say Patch ask a few GOOD questions

LA Cafe is our favorite restaurant regardless of the location. We just had dinner at the RP location last night....never disappoints! My best wishes for the family as they rebuild...No one has to go without LA Cafe's wonderful food or service....Check out the RP or 45 location!

There are a couple of vacant restaurants in Manhattan. We would love to have you here.

We are very sorry to learn about your fire. If there is anything we can do to help please contact us. We specialize in commercial fire loss and working with your insurance company. Please visit us on the web at www.thedrsteam.com
Sincerely,
Disaster Recovery Services

We were just there last night. The food, service and decor was wonderful! We are a big fan of LA Cafe. We hope you rebuild quickly with appropriate fire codes being met. Best wishes to the owner, workers and their families.

All the best, to the entire Family at LA! Thank God, nobody was hurt. Grease fires are very intense and even the best sytems out there can't difuuse the intensity, but things happen for a reason. Your re-birth will be greatly anticipated!

Our favorite place to go. Hope it will be up and running soon. maybe the girls can work at one of the other locations until you reopen.Our hearts go out to all affected.
The Steeles

La Cafe is one of my favorite places to eat. I love the food and the decor and their selsa is the best. I'm so glad no one was hurt. I am looking forward to a Grand re-opening in New Lenox. You have my support.

So sad the hear about our favorite place for breakfast. Maire and Lupe hope you are o.k.? We are so sorry about this. We hope to see you soon maybe you will be working at the Mokena LA? Prayers and thoughts are with you and your family.
Debbie

In a Grease fire sprinklers are of little help infact the water spreads the fire more.

I know most of the family who owned/worked there. They are the most likable people you would ever meet. Hard working isn't even a strong enough work to describe them. Its so sad to think of how many great people are affected by this tragedy. All of you are in are thoughts and prayers.

much thanks for all your support and prayers LA Cafe' staff.

Come on people. There are different kinds of sprinklers for different applications. And don't you think that once it spread out of the kitchen it wasn't really a grease fire anymore. Sprinklers would have controlled and minimized the damage.

Do your research before making comments on fire sprinklers.

there was sprinklers ,It was a accidental grease fire (very HOT)that shot throw the roof,most of the damage was water related,please pray and give us your support ,we will all miss are devoted costumers that where like family and all are La cafe family.

@ Katie-I hope that wasn't direct towards me. @shelly- I understand that fire is hot. And find it hard to believe that building was sprinkled. If the were even a suppression system in the cooking hood I'd be surprised. If there were any fire protection system it never would have made it to the roof or neighboring businesses....

suppressing system to have done much it might have been to late to stop it. Having worked in fast food kitchens for opening you turn on the fryers first then go to the walking refrigeration to take out what is necessary without much attention to what is happening with those fryers trusting that the closers did their job, cleaning grease off walls and equipment and regularly changing the grease.

I worked fast food by choice to learn the technique of fast food cooking so I wouldn't have to spend a lot taking my kids out to eat at them. I was a store manager at the same time in a food store. Wether at home or in a restaurant keeping grease off equipment and walls is very important to safe guard against a rapidly spreading fire. Homes with open concept kitchens will burn much faster than a home where the kitchen can be closed off by doors which will help contain the fire to that area of the house.

@Marshall Sears- I am a union sprinkler fitter and your previous comment about sprinklers is completely wrong. Water pressure? Annual costs? You really have no idea what you are taking about!!

I think fire sprinklers should not only be required in business but in homes also although water can douses the flames it wouldn't do much about stopping the fire from spreading if it is a grease fire or an electrical fire located between the walls of the building. It seems like this fire has brought the community together and perhaps it time for all of us to take a good look around and do an evaluation on how safe is my place, wether it be a restaurant or our homes, especially the electrical, kitchen and grease and at this time of year the fireplace.

To add to the comments I am a certified Electrical Inspector with certification in single family one and two occupancy, electrical general and electrical plan review. All of these areas do address fire protection. Also these tests are based on the National Electrical Code. And the National Electrical Code is under the NFPA or National Fire Protection Association. A sprinklers system cost less than not having one.

Yes I do know about Ansol system you can't work fast food kitchens and not know my point is the worker is not always standing at the fryers watching them they have other work to be done and the release is most often located in an area away from the fryers and are not remote controlled they may be out of reach if they are in the back of the kitchen and the worker is working in front. In most places they are not like smoke alarms they have to be released.

Great point Eileen I will look a me home today and make sure my portable fire extinguishers are fully charged.

It is good to have the portable fire extinguishers in the home and make sure there is one just for the kitchen rated and to remember when using them to come down onto the fire and not at it or the pressure from the fire extinguisher will only spread the fire and not put it out.

Eileen ALL deep fry cooking equipment MUST be covered by the system. And yes they are heat activated, along with pull station. I hope that the fryers were not in a place that was not covered.

I just looked at my portable fire extinguishers and they good thanks for the reminder.

Never been there but with all these great reviews I can't wait to try the new one out.

I hope that also. The fast food place I worked in was in Frankfort about 10 years ago and they were not heat activated. Maybe the newer places have that and that's great but I am sure there are places with older systems that have been over looked. as to electrical there are many homes Condos and duplexes, that were built in the 70's that were owner completion, ( we had such a home) and everything inside was done by the owner. as for inspections at the time were actually a waste of time we had electrical wires hanging out all over the place because the place we bought our home from didn't give us our lights etc. When the inspector came he didn't pay much attention to our electrical he wouldn't give us the ok because our one closet was not finished inside. After about a year after our house was built there were a rash of electrical fires in the area. Not ours we had an electrian do ours but we knew of a few that did their own while three sheets under the wind and their's were passed with flying colors. Today much of the wiring is covered up and is still there inspected by those same people.

Rob the fire did not make it to the neighboring business you are wrong.whats the craze about what kind of sprinkler system there was?there was someone there it was an accident,why are you tring to hurt the people that have put there whole life into that place and all the people that have lost there jobs and possible more.

Well said Kimberly. Thanks

I thank all the people with thier positive and supporting comments. For the rest of you, you do not understand the severity of what happened to our whole La Cafe family. I compare it to a death in the family even though nobody was hurt. You do not know our feelings toward our wonderful customers. Having worked at L cafe for the past 9/10 years they were like family to us. Now we have no way to contact them. To our dear customers, please remember we are thinking of you also. We are very hurt that people would say such negative things towards us. We were just innocent people planning to go into work that Saturday morning. I hope to see you at our grand opening at our new location. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! Donna Fisher La Cafe waitress

Donna I look forward to a great Grand Opening. I hope what has happened at La Cafe will be a wake up call to all resturant owners and managers to inspect their place of business and make any changes necessary to keep it safe for all. God bless and keep you always.
Eileen

Sorry about the loss of a fine restaurant and looking forward to its return. We enjoyed a meal there Friday evening and were surprised at the news. I am in the fire alarm business and know that in 90 seconds the place could be totally engulfed in flames if sprinklers are not installed. The fire department could do nothing more in the short time it takes for a fire to spread than contain the adjoining damage.. I am a firm believer in residential fire sprinklers as well as in a commercial setting. In a matter of seconds any fire can be out of control, so this is especially important if children, elderly or handicapped individuals live there. Although a fire alarm can alert occupants and authorities, sprinklers and dry chemical hood systems reduce the spread and damage. Is your home smoke detector connected to your intrusion alarm?

Rob, it was not meant for u. U seem to know what ur talking about.

I was very upset to hear about the loss of L.A. Cafe. I was set to have my bridal shower there in March. :-( My best wishes to Marc and the L.A. Cafe family for a speedy recovery. Hopefully they will get it back and running and it will be better than ever!! And then maybe someday in the future I will be able to hold a shower there for something.

Thank you Eileen, Brittany, John and all the other positive comments. When I read all the negative comments I was shocked that people could stoop so low. Your positive posts make us feel much better. Thanks again. We will miss you too.
Donna Fisher

Prayers go out to Marc and family and friend employees. As customers, you not only get awesome food, but you are treated like family. When we went there for lunch on Sunday after church, we were devastated. Our first thought was that we hoped no one was hurt. I told my husband that I felt like it was our house that burnt done. This is how at home we feel at LA. They are wonderful people and we will definitely go to their other locations to support them. We love you all and God speed in the recovery to be up and going soon.

Ok so what I gather is "Grease Fires" spread rapidly so the fire department that was directly across the street could not put the fire out in time. So if that is the case then all restaurants, whether Old or New ,should be required to have a sprinkler system. Can you imagine if this restaurant was filled with customers? Everyone might not have been able to get out alive. If the fire department couldn't get across the street fast enough then imagine if this restaurant was a few blocks or more away. In my opinion, we need to change the fire code and make this mandatory for all New Lenox restaurants.

Thank you for all of the supportive and positive comments and heartfelt wishes. I know all of the employess as well as Marc and his family appreciate it. Take care until we meet again.

Gara Layton - waitress

I always go to the new Lenox LA cafe, there is no possible they could have been in trouble, they had so much business. Everytime I went there I was with my mom and the waitress always remembered what we want. I'm so glad they are rebuilding. RIP old LA cafe, I'll see you soon!

To the fine LA Cafe Family: Marc, Shelly, Patty, Jo, Jackie, Albert (Chuck) Lupe, Mita and all the day-timers ... we were so sorry to hear of the accident and we are looking forward to your re-building. There's lots of space in Lockport . . . . and we'd love to see you there. So glad no one was hurt. Your great food and wonderful support system of friends and customers will be all the backing you need to get back on your feet!