Downtown Detroit’s Checker Bar damaged in fire, explosion reported

A fire tore through the basement and first floor of the Checker Bar in downtown Detroit early this morning, fire officials say.

The damage “unfortunately sounds fairly significant,” Corey McIsaac, a spokesperson for the Detroit Fire Department, tells Metro Times.

No injuries were reported.

Firefighters were on the scene less than five minutes after a 911 call was made at 4:13 a.m.

“Our guys did a great job,” McIsaac says.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Witnesses say they heard an explosion around the time of the fire.

“Huuuge boom around 4am or so. It was shattering loud,” a resident said on Reddit.

Another neighbor agreed.

“I heard the explosion too! It was loud enough that it woke me up.”

Metro Times couldn’t reach Checker Bar for comment.

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At 11 a.m. Tuesday, workers were boarding up windows that firefighters had smashed out on the first floor.

The fire broke out ahead of what would be a busy time for Checker Bar, a popular destination when the Lions play home games. The Lions face the Washington Commanders at home at 8 p.m. on Saturday for a playoff game.

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This article appears in Jan 8-14, 2025.