With today’s economy, it’s hard enough to run a restaurant business. With tight margins, tight wallets and tight purses in tough times, food establishments need all the help they can get. Holiday times is a time for restaurants to be hopeful as busy shoppers might take time to eat while they’re out, instead of spending time in their own kitchens. Certainly restaurant owners and staff would have been hoping for increased traffic into their establishments after the Holiday Lighting ceremony at North School Park, but about two hours after Christmas and holiday lights were turned on — and shined brightly and beautifully throughout downtown Arlington Heights — power went out at restaurants in downtown Arlington Heights. At least three restaurants had serious power problems that required that the businesses close for the night. Dunton House is open until 10:00 p.m. on Fridays, according to Yelp, but the restaurant had to close at about 8:10 p.m. La Tasca is open until midnight on Friday’s, but had to close about 8:10 p.m. Harry’s of Arlington is open until 2:00 a.m. Friday/Saturday, but also had to close about 8:10 pm.
Four trucks and crews working on Campbell Street, just east of Vail Avenue.
The problem was serious enough that Com Ed had at least four trucks with crews working past 2:00 a.m. in downtown Arlington Heights.
Com Ed truck parked at the downtown Metra train station while a crew was checking the transformer near the train station, and holiday lights seemed to fully-functional.
Arlington Heights police and firefighter/paramedics responded about 8:28 PM Friday to Harry’s of Arlington, 1 North Vail Avenue Arlington Heights, IL. Firefighter/paramedics investigated a burning odor and possible electrical problems in the area near Harry’s of Arlington. Half of the building at Harry’s had lights flashing on and off, the hood over the cooking area failed, there was a smell of something burning, and while the refrigerator was working, it was making a strange noise.
Firefighters found no hazardous problem inside Harry’s of Arlington, but noted possible power outages in the area. Harry’s appeared to have a partial power disruption, and Com Ed was notified. Some service was working, and some service wasn’t working in the area of other establishments, as well. Street lights were functioning outside, but the businesses had serious electricity supply issues.
Map of area of power outages Friday night …
Com Ed crew checking the area near La Tasca restaurant at Vail Avenue and Davis Street and Wing Street where a transformer is located on the northwest corner.
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