BUCKTOWN — Dozens of bricks came crashing down from a 124-year-old building and onto the sidewalk in front of Bucktown's Le Bouchon, a popular French bistro on the southwest corner of Armitage and Damen avenues.
"It sounded like a bomb, and there was a huge cloud of dust," said Susanne Poilevey, who was in the restaurant when it happened around 11:30 a.m. Thursday. Le Bouchon was closed at the time; there were no injuries.
Susanne's husband, Chef Jean-Claude Poilevey, was on his way to the family-run bistro when the bricks fell.
Susanne Poilevey said her back was to the window when the bricks fell, but she was talking with an employee who was facing the window and witnessed the crash.
"It lasted about 5 seconds, happened all at once. We're very thankful no one was walking by and there was not any damage to any property," Poilevey said.
Around 4:20 p.m. Thursday, construction workers were preparing to install scaffolding over the 1890s-era building's facade, so that pedestrians can walk by safely.
The Poileveys, who celebrated Le Bouchon's 20th anniversary in July 2103, bought the building several years ago.
The building was last inspected in January and passed its inspection, according to city records.
A spokesman from the city's Dept. of Buildings was not immediately available on Thursday to comment. On Monday, several bricks fell from an old building, at 1437 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Wicker Park.
Le Bouchon's tiny red and dark green 40-seat storefront is often packed with diners.
Provided the scaffolding get put up soon, Le Bouchon will be open for dinner, Poilevey said.
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