Fire closes popular Center City soccer bar indefinitely days before start of World Cup in Philly

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A popular pub in Center City Philadelphia is closed indefinitely after a fire earlier this week caused significant damage. But the owner tells Action News he can't wait to reopen his doors for customers someday soon.

The Black Sheep, located on the 200 block of 17th Street, first caught fire on Monday night around 9 p.m. The owner, James Stephens, said one of his bartenders called to report a lot of smoke in the building.

"By the time I got here, everyone was outside. There were six fire trucks here, and there was a lot going on," Stephens said.

He said crews were thorough as they handled the fire. However, Stephens was called back to his business just after 2 a.m. Tuesday, when the fire reignited.

Now, he is dealing with extensive damage inside his establishment of 25 years.

"There's a lot of significant smoke and fire damage, and water damage," he said. "We're just going to take it one day at a time and get this thing back up and running."

Stephens said he's been told it could take months to reopen, which would mean this incredibly popular soccer bar could miss hosting fans when the World Cup comes to town in just a matter of days.

"We were looking forward to a really good World Cup. We knew the city would be pumping. I had a lot of beers matched up with different countries that I was going to do for different games," he said. "It's very disappointing. But at the same time, what are you going to do? You just gotta get on with it."

Even though soccer fans won't fill the pub anytime soon, they are still showing their support for Stephens and his staff by creating a GoFundMe that is circulating around the soccer community.

"We felt absolutely, 100% that we needed to support the staff," said Kim Haggert of the Philadelphia Manchester United Supporters' Club.

The Philadelphia Manchester United Supporters' Club watches every match at The Black Sheep.

"James is there for every single match for us. No matter what time of the day the match starts, he is going to open the pub for the supporters club," Haggert added.

Stephens and his daughter, Emily, say the support means the world to them as they work to get their business back up and running.

"It just really means a lot to me, growing up here with my family," Emily Stephens said. "All the hard work my dad has put into this. It's his everything. And, even the staff are like family at this point."

"The outpouring from people has been very emotional. I'm used to helping people rather than taking help, so this is very different for me," Stephens said. "It's great to see we mean so much to different people."