Remembering when the India Curry House burned but fire crews saved downtown La Crosse

Just a few years ago, the northwest corner of 4th and King streets in La Crosse was home to a couple of popular businesses — the India Curry House and Glory Days sports bar.

A 4 a.m. fire April 28, 2022 destroyed those two buildings. It took about three hours for the front wall of the India Curry House to collapse onto the sidewalk and street.

There was concern about the fire possibly spreading to neighboring businesses, such as Designing Jewelers and Glory Days.

People living in upstairs apartments were able to evacuate. The restaurant was torn down the same day as the fire, and investigators did not determine a specific cause for the blaze.

Glory Days received some damage from the fire, and the Packers-themed bar containing football memorabilia, was soon condemned and slated for demolition.

The corner building constructed in the 1930s and designed by local architect Otto Merman originally consisted of two businesses — a beverage store and a gas station.

Glory Days was on a recent list of ‘most endangered’ historic buildings in La Crosse. The teardown of the bar began in April of 2024, just after the anniversary of the fire next door.

A hole in the ground remained for a while after the Curry House fire, but it has since been filled in.

The land has been advertised for possible development, but for now, it’s empty, and a reminder of some well-known businesses from Yesterday in La Crosse.