The historic Parkview Inn restaurant in Bloomington, Illinois, destroyed by fire two years ago, may be rebuilt and reopened by early November.
The Bloomington Pantagraph reported last week:
The restaurant was a mainstay along old Route 66 since 1928, but a fire in October 2016 burned the original structure beyond repair. […]
“We’re hoping to open by the end of October or the first part of November,” said owner Rick McCormick.
“It’s all framed. They’re putting the windows in today (Wednesday). The plumbing and heating and air-conditioning are going to start going in.”
After the fire, McCormick demolished what was left of the restaurant, also known as the Parkview Food and Pub, and a nearby engine shop so he could rebuild a bigger restaurant and create a bigger parking lot.
He said the interior decor would feature Route 66, which runs by his restaurant. The new Parkview Inn’s east wall will be all glass so customers can enjoy a view of the Mother Road and Miller Park.
McCormick said the menu won’t change. It will serve old favorites such as catfish, fried chicken, pizza and hamburgers.
The fire in October 2016, which began in an exhaust hood, caused about $300,000 in damage.
The Parkview, originally built in 1928, sits on a 1930-1940 alignment of Route 66 at 1003 Morris Ave. (map here). At the time of the fire in late 2016, it reportedly was Bloomington’s oldest restaurant that remained in the same site.
Hi. What is the update on opening. It’s a very nice building thats rebuilt. I love your chicken. Thanks