Feb. 19--Firefighters are investigating the cause of a blaze that destroyed a Florissant restaurant and jazz club early this morning.
No one was injured in the fire, which started in the Halls Ferry Inn Jazz Cafe, 3425 North Highway 67, about 1:30 a.m. The club closes at midnight, according to a recorded phone message at the business.
Crews with the Black Jack Fire Protection District were able to contain the fire to the restaurant, which adjoins a music store.
No one was in the cafe when the fire started. The business was long known simply as Halls Ferry Inn until a new owner last year added Jazz Cafe to the title. In doing so, live music was featured on the weekends, and the menu was updated.
In an October interview with Florissant Patch, new owner Lozell Stiles said the restaurant was reconstructed and several new amenities added.
"All of the decor is now a reflection of jazz," Stiles said. "We have a lot of artwork, real acoustic guitars on the walls, even a lead guitar from the '70s that's worth a lot of money."
The restaurant features white tableclothes, elegant china and real glasses and silverware on the table.
"The ambiance is great," Stiles said. "It's really classy. Some people even feel underdressed when they come in."
Check with stltoday.com for more updates on this story.
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