New Chatham Cafe location damaged by fire

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Lu and Kenny Asani have operated Chatham Cafe since 2015. Together with seven of their family members they make food, wait tables, and organize to go orders.

In June, they started renovating a building on South MacArthur in Springfield, which used to be a McDonald's. But yesterday, they got a call that the building was on fire.

"We got a call from our contractor that said our building had caught fire," said Lu Asani. "We only had about three to four weeks before it was completed and something went wrong and it caught on fire."

When Asani announced on Facebook that the new location had caught fire, community members poured out support. Customers said they had been awaiting the new location, as the current one fills up during each meal.

"It was scary at first, but we have a wonderful community and a lot of support from our Chatham and Springfield customers," said Asani. "If it wasn't for them we wouldn't be here."

Springfield Fire Chief Ed Canny said it took about 26 firefighters to get the flames under control. He said the fire was an accident and was likely worsened because the building did not have a ceiling, so the flames went into the roof.

It's too early to know when the building may become operational, but the Asani family says they will get it running no matter how long it takes.

"We still plan on opening because its a big thing for the community and its a big thing for us," said Asani.