Two Stooges Sports Bar & Grill Temporarily Evacuates Due to Smoke Problem

The Two Stooges Sports Bar & Grill  in Fridley closed over the lunch hour today (Tuesday) when normally it would have brimming with business. 

The reason: The Fridley Fire Department responded to an emergency call that smoke was wafting through the ventilation system of the popular eatery, 7178 University Ave. N.E. Th department took the call about 12:15 p.m. 

Fridley Fire Chief John Berg said the initial report is that a motor on the building's heating ventilation and air-conditioning system burnt out, causing the smoke. 

Berg said that Xcel Energy shut off electric power to the building and that seemed to put an end to the smoke. No actual fire occurred. 

Meanwhile, the Two Stooges management had customers and staff evacuate the building. 

"We had to cancel lots of lunch parties today," said Anthony Benedetti, general manager of Two Stooges. 

However, by mid-afternoon, the bar and grill reopened for business.