Kitchen fire closes Ludi's Restaurant and Lounge

Ludi's Restaurant and Lounge, a downtown Seattle staple, had to close its doors Wednesday after an early morning fire.

Just before 3:30 a.m., crews responded to reports of a fire in a building in the 200 block of Pike Street.

When crews arrived, there was a fire in the kitchen of a restaurant that extended into the restaurant's ventilation ducts.

Firefighters got the fire under control at about 3:45 a.m., and the cause is under investigation.

No one was inside during the time of the fire, and no injuries were reported.

Moments after the fire, Ludi's Restaurant and Lounge posted a sign on its window saying it would be closed until further notice because of the fire.

The restaurant was set to close Aug. 31, ending a 17-year lease. It's unknown when the restaurant will reopen.

In April, KIRO 7's Patranya Bhoolsuwan spoke with the Ludi's owner, Gregorio Rosas, who said the building's owner has new plans for the property.

He thinks his diner will turn into more parking space to accommodate new developments downtown, including the newly renovated State Hotel across the street.

Rosas said he was working with a broker to find a new spot, but it will be hard to find rent as low as what he has paid for this prime property for over two decades.

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