FULTON MARKET — After a fire that forced a full evacuation of the private club and hotel Friday, parts of the Soho House club in the West Loop remained closed this week.
Because of post-fire water damage, the fifth floor of the club, which features members-only spaces, the Belt Room, an event space on the fourth floor, and some hotel rooms remain closed as repairs are being made, Soho House Chicago general manager James Barnett wrote in an e-mail to members Saturday. One elevator is working at the club, and others in the building are expected to be out of service for the next few days.
Staff hopes to reopen the fifth floor of the club by Friday, June 23, a Soho representative said Monday.
After fire crews exited the scene Friday, Kulbida said six inches of water covered some of the fifth floor.
At about 2 p.m. Friday, a grease fire started in the top-floor kitchen of Soho House, 113 N. Green St., witnesses and Near West Police Cmdr. Ed Kulbida said at the scene. About 100 patrons evacuated the club, but no one was injured.
RELATED: Fire At Soho House Forces Private Club To Evacuate Members
Fire crews exited the scene later Friday afternoon, but were called back to the scene at about 11 p.m. after reports of some smoldering, according to Moshe Tamssot, founder of True West Loop, a neighborhood-focused Facebook page.
"Water damage to the 5th floor was described as extensive," Tamssot wrote. "That floor contains a large and very valuable art collection, Members lounge/work area, and a restaurant. ... In these types of fires, water does more damage than the fire itself."
Barnett confirmed the fire started in Soho House's kitchen duct system.
"Thankfully, the fire was contained quickly and no one was harmed," he wrote. "We are thankful to the Chicago Fire Department and to everyone for your support."
Other areas of the building, including open-to-the-public Chicken & Farm Shop, The Allis, The Cowshed spa, and the private roofdeck pool area, promptly reopened Saturday.
Soho House Chicago opened in the West Loop in 2014.
