Arson Charges Filed In Larry's Diner Fire: Plainfield Police

PLAINFIELD, IL — Plainfield police say two 14-year-olds are facing arson charges in the March 24 fire at Larry's Diner, as well as charges in a property damage incident that happened a week later.

The fire at the former site of Larry's Diner, which closed two years ago, was spotted just after 5 p.m. Crews who arrived found a fire actively burning at the rear exterior of the building, 24522 W. Lockport St., the Plainfield Fire Protection District said at the time. Firefighters quickly extinguished the exterior fire, but upon further investigation, discovered that the fire had extended into the attic inside the restaurant, officials said.

During a preliminary investigation, police said investigators identified the origin of the fire and determined it was intentionally set. Police identified two 14-year-olds, who were near the vacant restaurant at the time of the fire, as persons of interest.

Plainfield police and fire investigators worked together to collect additional evidence related to the suspected arson. A week after the Larry's Diner fire, Plainfield police got a report of criminal damage to property near Lockport Street and Wood Farm Road. Investigators determined the same two teens were responsible for the damage, police said.

The teens were taken into custody and charged with criminal damage to property. During the arrest, detectives obtained a search warrant for the teens' cell phones. A forensic examination of the phones recovered evidence linking them to the March 24 arson at Larry's Diner, police said.

On Thursday, both teens were taken into custody and charged with arson and a felony count of crinal damage to property.

In March, Plainfield Mayor John Argoudelis called the circumstances surrounding the Larry's Diner fire "strange," adding, "There may be more to the story."

The owners of the property, who planned to remodel it and reopen it as a Japanese restaurant, had contractors out at the site earlier in the day before the fire broke out, Plainfield Fire Chief Vito Bonomo told Patch.

"It may be coincidence that the fire started later in the day," Bonomo said. “This is why we do our investigations … to figure out exactly what happened to go through if this was a maliciously set fire or if this was accidental."

Larry's Diner originally opened in 2000. When it closed in 2023, its owners said they planned to relocate.

According to a release from the Plainfield Fire Protection District, the building is uninhabitable, and estimated damage exceeds $200,000.