Fire shuts down Hudson Lake restaurant, tavern

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By SBT 24/7 News

Story Created: Mar 24, 2009 at 2:21 AM EDT

Story Updated: Mar 24, 2009 at 2:21 AM EDT

HUDSON LAKE — Happy Joe's Roadside Inn has been a fixture in Hudson Lake for decades. It was closed Monday because of a fire that caused an estimated $50,000 in damage.

The owner, Joe Kolat, told investigators he has no insurance, according to LaPorte County police.

About 2:30 p.m. Sunday, firefighters from the New Carlisle-Hudson and Olive township fire department responded to the restaurant and tavern at 7896 N. Walker Road.

Fire Chief Bill Gumm said the fire started in the exhaust pipe of a wood burning stove because of creosote build-up and spread into the attic.

Gumm said the owners reside in a 700-square-foot section of the roughly 2,000-square-foot building and regularly use the wood burning stove during the winter.

According to police, Kolat said he canceled his insurance on the property last year because he had plans to sell the business.

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