April 20--Antonia Villeges watched in disbelief as flames that engulfed Windy City Produce, a grocery store in the Irving Park neighborhood where she has been working for more than three years.
"I ran here as fast as I could," said Villeges, 23, who lives nearby. "I panicked."
Villeges and other neighbors said they awoke to a giant cloud of black smoke outside their homes as an extra-alarm fire ripped through the store at 3340 N. Pulaski Road.
The fire started about 3:40 a.m., and flames had spread throughout the building by the time crews arrived, according to Chicago Fire Cmdr. Frank Velez.
The fire was raised to a 2-11 alarm as about 100 fire department personnel were called to the scene, Velez said. The blaze was struck out at 5:34 a.m. and no injuries were reported, Velez said.
"The building itself is completely damaged," Velez said. "There was an extensive amount of damage."
The cause of the fire was under investigation, officials said.
One of the grocery store's owners stood with the residents, watching the firefighters.
"It's totally lost," said the man, who declined to be identified, adding that the grocery store has been around for about 35 years.
Villeges, a cashier and assistant manager at the store, said she worked until the store closed around 9 p.m. Sunday. "Nothing seemed fishy," she said.
She said her job at Windy City Produce is her only source of income and she hopes the store's owners can overcome the devastating fire. She added that her sister and her brother-in-law also work at the store, which employed about 25 people.
"I want to see if I can stick through with (the store's owners)," Villeges said. "They're some of the best bosses I've ever had. They actually worry about you and help you."
Other residents expressed concern for the store's owners and were sad to see the building engulfed in flames.
"I would go there all the time," said Yolanda Lopez, who lives across the street from the store. "They're awesome people."
