Restaurant fire shuts down Walnut, Seventh streets

A three-alarm fire shut down Walnut and Eighth streets early Monday morning.

The Bloomington Fire Department responded to a fire at Japanee Japanese restaurant and sushi bar, located at 320 N. Walnut St., across the street from Kilroy's Sports.

Traffic was redirected to Seventh Street until the road was reopened again at about 10 a.m.

The blaze, which consumed the back and left sides of the restaurant and front side of the roof, was reported at about 7 a.m. this morning, BFD Chief Roger Kerr, said.

There were no flames visible as smoke continued to rise from all sides of the restaurant at about 10 a.m..

Nobody was in the restaurant at the time of the call.

Kerr said conditions worsened to the point where firefighters retreated and adopted a defensive strategy.

A cause of the fire has yet to be determined, he said.

As of 10 a.m.,  firefighters were working to ensure all hotspots of the blaze were extinguished before preliminary efforts of the investigation can begin.

An expert in fire restoration said the building is severely damaged with repair costs likely exceeding $100,000. The restaurant had recently reopened following the completion a renovation earlier this summer.