The 911 call came in at 10:29 a.m. June 19 – someone in one of the apartments near Café Moxo smelled smoke.
Two Springfield firefighters arrived and wandered about the apartment but couldn't detect anything of concern. They ended up leaving after 20 minutes.
About 45 minutes after the initial call, the building at 413-415 E. Adams St. erupted into flames, becoming the largest downtown conflagration in more than 40 years.
Fire Chief Ed Canny said his department routinely receives calls from residents who smell smoke in their homes or businesses. And usually, no fires are connected to the perceived odors. But that wasn't the case June 19.
Canny said his personnel did everything right.
"They checked the building. They used our thermal imaging cameras and all that to see. The person who called felt that the smell had dissipated," he said.
Still, as the firefighters searched and departed, flames kindled in a neighboring structure.
Among the displaced businesses were The Elf Shelf Books & Music, Electric Quill Tattoos and The Cats' Pyjamas Cat Café. The Pillsbury art exhibit on the third floor caved in.
Café Moxo, a popular eatery next door at 409-411 E. Adams St., was untouched by flames but sustained smoke and water damage. Restaurant owner Mark Forinash said he was aware a neighbor called the fire department complaining of smoke.
"I think it's probably pretty difficult in those old buildings (to find a fire)," he said. "There's a certain protocol I'm sure that the fire department goes by, but I would have to assume that their job is extremely difficult. They kind of have a playbook on that. We just serve food."
Forinash isn't certain when his restaurant will again be serving customers.
Chris Nickell, who owns the building that burned as well as the one housing Café Moxo, said special brackets are being designed to stabilize the wall that was between Café Moxo and the three-story building that was destroyed by the fire.
Nickell said the cause of the fire has not been determined. But for now, he's focused on getting the damaged building demolished and Café Moxo rebuilt.
"The building permits were approved," Forinash said. "So now we're waiting to find out when that (installation is) going to be scheduled. And some of those parts have to get made because they're not something that you can just buy off the shelf at Lowe's or Menards. So that bracket system and the shoring-up system is going to have to get crafted and then installed."
In the meantime, Café Moxo is continuing to pay its employees. Instead of serving sandwiches and chicken pot pies, they are providing services to organizations such as St. John's Breadline, Central Illinois Food Bank and Compass for Kids.
"We reached out to a lot of not-for-profits and community organizations in hopes that we can help them with some tasks while we're closed," Forinash said.
His actions are driven by both altruism and business pragmatism. Forinash explained how his business is able to keep 16 employees on the payroll without any revenue coming in:
"You try to scrimp and you try to save. We certainly have had an outpouring of support from the community and then you use whatever insurance resources you can. You know, it doesn't cover everything. ... these people depend on us just as much as we depend on them."
By maintaining a cadre of employees during this shutdown, Forinash said he will be better prepared when his restaurant does reopen. He noted there has been some attrition among the 16 workers.
"Our goal is to provide for them and their families," Forinash said. "And it goes both ways. We're certainly hoping to have a base to build off, to keep our core crew together."
In addition to the exterior wall needing to be shored up, Café Moxo has to replace all of its inventory.
"We have zero equipment. We have zero plates. We don't have a fork. We don't have a napkin. (There is) no cooking equipment or anything. So, it's going to take some time. We'll be starting over," Forinash said.
Perishable foods stored in the businesses' refrigerators have spoiled because the building has gone months without electricity, he said. Interior walls will need to be opened to ensure mold is not growing within and to make sure wiring and plumbing has not been damaged.
At one point, Forinash had pondered creating a temporary location for the café, and he said that remains a possibility. But his focus is on reopening where they have operated for 18 years, although just when that will be remains an open question.
"We're hoping it'll happen in a pretty timely fashion," he said. "We would love to see it happen in 2024. That would be on our Christmas wish list. We're looking to start the new year off strong at Café Moxo."
Scott Reeder, a staff writer for Illinois Times, can be reached at sreeder@illinoistimes.com.