86-Year-Old Palace Grill Is Closed After a Fire | Eater Chicago

"An 86-year-old Near West Side diner at 1408 W. Madison Street was forced to close after a Thursday kitchen grease fire that began beside a grill; firefighters arrived just after 10 p.m., cut a hole in the roof to douse the flames and extinguished them relatively quickly, and no injuries were reported, though interior damage is extensive. Founded in 1938 and family-owned since 1955 by George Lemperis's family, the old-school eatery has long been a pillar of Chicago diner culture—serving fans of Chicago Stadium and the United Center, hosting Blackhawks players and Stanley Cup celebrations amid walls draped with jerseys and memorabilia, and welcoming celebrities and politicians from Oprah Winfrey to Al Gore (who once dined with Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin). As news spread, patrons and sports figures expressed condolences on social media, underscoring its place in the city's culinary and sports history; repairs and a reopening timeline remain uncertain." - Naomi Waxman