Hectic start to work week for downtown South Bend businesses, offices due to large fire scene

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- It was an unusual start of the work week for many in South Bend Monday morning.

"I'm like 'What happened?', I was just heading out for my dentist appointment and I'm like 'Oh sad,'" says Harpreet Kaur, Co-owner of L Street Kitchen and Punjabi Rasoi.

Just a few doors down from the scene of Monday morning's fire at the historic Lafayette Building in downtown South Bend is L Street Kitchen.

The restaurant kept its doors open through the chaos, but Co-owner Harpreet Kaur says they certainly took a hit from being part of the blocked-off portion of downtown during their business hours.

"It is a really sad day for us because we totally lost our business today understanding the situation, but glad nobody was hurt in the next buildings and everybody is safe," Kaur says. "Of course, security comes first but definitely hurt our business for today."

She says they also missed out on some regular business from customers who come in to eat before or after going to the county building, which was closed due to the fire.

"We are usually busy on weekdays because of the offices," Kaur says.

"We decided that because of the increasing air quality that we would go ahead and close the building," explains Saint Joseph County Commissioner Rafael Morton.

South Bend Mayor James Mueller commented on the devastation of the historic building.

"You never know what you're going to wake up in this job and certainly something really unfortunate to see," says South Bend Mayor James Mueller. "A lot of work has gone into preserving that building."

As far as the disruption downtown, people are just thankful that no one was hurt.

"At the end of the day, no one was injured and that's the bottom line. That's what really matters," Morton says.

"They are safe, we are safe, our building is safe, everybody is good here," assures Kaur.

The City of South Bend says the block of Lafayette Boulevard between Jefferson Boulevard and Washington Street will be closed Tuesday as well, as crews work to investigate and clean up following today's fire.

Kaur says L-Street Kitchen will be open Tuesday.