Good Times bar destroyed by fire

CRESCO - The Cresco community has been anxiously awaiting the opening of the Good Times Grill, formerly of Decorah, since September 2021. The business was set to open around Labor Day, but the wait will be a little longer.

“For those who haven't heard yet, there was a fire at the Cresco building this evening.  No one was hurt thankfully, but there will be another period of rebuilding,” owner Jon Wedl (rhymes with ladle) stated on the business’ social media page.

The fire call went out at 7:38 p.m. 

Wedl was sitting in his upstairs office, which overlooks North Elm St., making up the menu and plans for a soft six-hour opening on Saturday of Norman Borlaug Harvest Fest. His work crew had left about a half-hour earlier.

He saw a man standing in the middle of the street looking oddly at the building and talking on his phone. Then he saw some smoke.

When he opened his office door, the smoke came billowing in. Wedl immediately couldn’t see. He felt his way to the back of the building, where a safety door was installed. The door allows access to the building to the south, Murphy, Coe & Smith [MCS, formerly Aspenson Real Estate].

There was another safety door, which had been partially installed just that day towards the front, but wasn’t to be operational until the following day.

When he got next door, Wedl banged on apartment doors making sure everyone was out of the building.

Cresco Police Department evacuated the whole block since all the buildings are connected (MCS/Wildflower Framing/ GrandPad, Good Times, Holstrom Jewelry annex, Holstrom, The Pub and Lighthouse Counseling).

Without the quick action of the Cresco Community Fire Department, the whole block could have been in trouble. Mutual aid was immediately called for Ridgeway, Lime Springs, Protivin and Decorah.

Barb Holstrom, who lives above the jewelry store, said, “The fire department did a great job. They got mutual aid watching the back alley and more. People were really helpful. They kept asking if we needed anything.”

They were allowed to go back into their apartments around 11:30 p.m. The apartments smelled of smoke, but were otherwise okay.

The corner building sustained a little more smoke damage since it and the Good Times building were originally one structure. 

After the commotion calmed down, Wedl stated, “I am grateful for the Cresco Fire Department and their quick action.  I have a new-found respect for anyone who will go into that danger after [I had to crawl] out of it. 

“For those like myself who just want a [darn] burger and a beer, it’s coming.  Life has not quit with the hurdles, but we haven’t quit jumping either.  Still coming Cresco, please be patient.”