Well-Known Iowa City Eatery Sustains $30,000 Fire Damage

An overnight fire caused roughly $30,000 damage to a well-known Iowa City restaurant.

The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports the fire that started in the basement of Hamburg Inn No. 2 was reported shortly after 1 a.m. Sunday.

Smoke billowed out of the building during the fire, but it appears that firefighters were able to contain the blaze to the basement. No injuries were reported.

The cause is still under investigation, but restaurant owner Dave Panther says he was told an overheating soft drink machine appears to have started the fire.

Panther says employees noticed the machine was warm before closing and unplugged it.

Panther says he hopes key parts of the restaurant and its memorabilia from politicians’ visits in the past survived the fire.