The Chick-n-Elly’s restaurant, 122 South Central Ave., in Eureka, has temporarily closed after the kitchen floor was damaged by fire early on Dec. 17.
“Another fire tried to put us down, but we ain’t out of business yet,” the business posted on its Facebook page. “Going to be a while, but we will be back.”
Scott Barthelmass, public information officer for the Eureka Fire Protection District, said the owners called 911 when they noticed smoke coming out of the rear of the building.
Barthelmass said Eureka Fire was dispatched at 4:17 a.m. and arrived on the scene at 4:26 a.m.
He said the fire was in a crawl space below the kitchen floor.
Firefighters had to remove the kitchen floor to put out the fire, which was under control by 4:41 a.m., and crews remained on the scene until 7:29 a.m., Barthelmass said.
He said the cause of the fire is undetermined, but not suspicious.
Barthelmass said there was a previous grease fire at the restaurant.
The Pacific, High Ridge, Fenton and Metro West fire protection districts helped with the call, and Meramec Ambulance responded to the scene.