HopScotch & Vine Will Not Reopen After January Kitchen Fire

PLAINFIELD, IL — After a kitchen fire caused about $100,000 in damages to HopScotch & Vine, owners announced late Wednesday they would not reopen their downtown Plainfield restaurant.

The restaurant, at 24047 W. Lockport St., has been shut down since a fryer caught on fire "right when [they] opened" on Jan. 28, Patch reported.

In a letter shared on Facebook, owners Mike and Cassie Vaughn said they decided to close the HopScotch for good after taking time off following the fire.

"The past 4 months have been hard as we have tried to work with a very uncooperative insurance company," owners Mike and Cassie Vaughn wrote in a letter. "But the 4 months off have given our family time to relax and reflect what the next chapter for HopScotch was gonna look like.. It gave us time to come up with great plans on the decor concept and menu ideas.. but after having 4 months off, our family has decided not to reopen. And although it feels bittersweet, as it's all we have known for the greater part of our lives, we are thankful for the memories."

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Owners said the "worst part" of the fire was the impact it had on staff.

"They are and always will be our family," the letter stated. "To all those family members past and present we thank you from the bottom of our hearts. To the customers and friends who became like family, thank you for the years of support."

Mayor John Argoudelis said he expects it won't be long until a new restaurant opens in HopScotch's place.

"It's sad to see a longtime popular restaurant in Plainfield close," he told Patch. "I know that the Vaughn family worked very hard over the years and people were very receptive to Hopscotch. ... I've been advised it's a time in their life that they're transitioning from running a restaurant. I'm very certain we'll have a new restaurant wanting to open there soon."