A Calumet Region institution, Calumet Fisheries on the far South Side of Chicago, will reopen Saturday after city health inspectors shut it down.
Chicago health inspectors ordered the seafood shack at 3259 E. 95th St. near the mouth of the Calumet River to close after finding rodent droppings in the basement. The owners said it was a 95-year-old building that needed renovations.
"Thank you all for your patience We will be open tomorrow morning," Calumet Fisheries posted on social media Friday. "We appreciate the support from all our loyal customers thank you so much. Your friendly fishmongers of Calumet Fisheries."
Calumet Fisheries first failed a city health inspection on Oct. 31. The city required many repairs, including sealing doors tighter to prevent rats and mice from entering, fixing leaky faucets, cleaning spillage in display counters, and replacing a freezer door handle, floor tiles, loose freezer wall panels and worn cutting boards, according to City of Chicago records.
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It again failed a follow-up inspection on Nov. 6 that said more repairs were needed and a pest control specialist needed to be brought in.
Calumet Fisheries near Steelworkers Park at the site of U.S. Steel's former South Works mill is an acclaimed culinary institution that's received a James Beard American Classic Award and appeared on Anthony Bourdain's "No Reservations," WTTW's "Check Please!" and "Hunrgy Hound."
Started in 1948, the no-frills takeout seafood restaurant specializes in smoked fish like smelt, chubs, eel, trout, sable, salmon, shrimp, sturgeon, herring, oysters, white fish and catfish. It's cash-only and on the 95th Street Bridge that Elwood and Joliet Jake Blues jumped in the classic film "Blues Brothers."
