Chester’s Grape Leaves Diner Goes Up in Flames, Forces Guests From Rooms at Adjacent Chester Days Inn

A Delaware County diner went up in flames overnight forcing guests at an adjacent hotel out of their rooms.

Fire broke out shortly before 3 a.m. Tuesday inside the dining room area of the Grape Leaves Diner along Edgmonth Avenue in Chester, Pennsylvania – the diner sits a short distance from Interstate 95 and is attached to Days Inn Chester Philadelphia Airport.

When crews arrived they found smoke and flames shooting from the roof of the eatery that was formerly known as the Sunrise Diner, which was closed at the time, said firefighters.

Thick smoke filled some of the halls and rooms of the Days Inn causing dozens of guests to be evacuated to the lobby as fire alarms went off.

Thankfully no one was hurt, said Chester Fire Department Chief Joseph Iacono.

"We lucked out," said Iacono. "Somebody had to see it. Luckily they saw it soon enough before it got worse than it is."

The restaurant appeared to be a total loss -- with holes in the roof -- but the hotel wasn't damaged, said firefighters. Guests were allowed back in their rooms around 5:30 a.m.