DE PERE, Wis. (NBC 26) -- The Chicago Street Pub is making a comeback.
"At first being optimistic of, we're gonna reopen back up tonight," General Manager Austin DeCleene said. "Then maybe the next day we're gonna be reopen."
BACKGROUND
- De Pere venue offers free event space for those with fire-impacted plans at Chicago Street Pub
- Ledgeview Fire Chief: Cause of Friday's building fire undetermined
- Fire destroys church and restaurant
And the time has finally come. DeCleene's restaurant will open its doors again after nearly a month.
"It puts things into perspective on how quickly things can change," he said.
After a devastating fire destroyed the Chicago Street Pub in De Pere back in June, the restaurant is set to reopen in a temporary location.
Starting next Tuesday, July 20, the eatery will serve customers five minutes away, using the Swan Club's building. The banquet hall is also owned by the DeCleene family.
"It's an opportunity that we can get some employees back to work," DeCleene said. "It's not gonna be the same obviously, but it's at least a nice temporary spot."
The GM says it will likely take six to eight months to rebuild Chicago Street's last structure.
"Just like we did through COVID, just like we're gonna do through this fire, we're gonna keep moving forward," DeCleene said.
Loyal customers like Andrew Berg will be waiting at the door when the interim pub reopens.
"When it was gone, it was kind of a shock," the De Pere resident said. "What do we do now after Tuesday night softball?"
And with a new building soon in the works, Berg says the fire will leave the restaurant bigger and better than ever.
"Chicago Street has been like a second home to me," he said.
So after weeks of getting cleanup efforts, DeCleene is finally ready to get back to work.
"We'll never be able to replicate what Chicago Street was," he said. "But we hold onto those memories and we're excited to make many new memories at this temporary spot and at the new location as we move forward."
At the temporary location, the Chicago Street Pub will have a condensed menu with pizza and wings.
