Damage in the hundreds of thousands of dollars: Friday's Front Row reopens on limited basis after fire



MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- We now know how bad the damage is after a fire at Miller Park early Monday morning, July 21st. The Milwaukee Fire Department says the cleanup will cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. However, Friday's Front Row has reopened -- albeit on a limited basis.

It may not sound like a great date, but Matthew Annen and Beth Athy have been in great anticipation of their trip to Friday's Front Row. Then again, this isn't just any chain restaurant. It's one with a view!

It is a perfect night they thought was ruined.

"He was like - 'we're meeting at Friday's.' I was like 'well, there was just a fire,'" Athy said.

An early morning fire on Monday destroyed the restaurant's kitchen and spread into the air ducts. The serious damage left behind shut down the elevators and meeting rooms at Miller Park, and closed the restaurant.

On Thursday, July 24th, the Milwaukee Fire Department put the damage estimate at $700,000.

It's damage that's hard to comprehend when you've been planning for two months to host more than 30 clients.

Luke Pierson with En Pointe Technologies has a big presentation planned.

"Immediately I thought 'what the heck is going on?' I thought for sure it was done. This is just really bad luck. It didn't look too bad when we walked in. It didn't smell smoky -- or look like things were in shambles," Pierson said.

Drinks are flowing again at Friday's Front Row, but the restaurant isn't serving food.

The restaurant will only be open on home game nights -- and is only serving a limited menu.

A FOX6 News crew spotted at least three elevators not working at Miller Park. Brewers officials don't know when a full cleanup will be complete.