Hotel officials were given the green light Friday to re-open following a Wednesday night fire that destroyed four long-term apartments adjacent to the King Street hotel.

An inspector with the Ontario Fire Marshal's Office said Friday the cause of the fire, which cost an estimated $500,000, remains under investigation.

Inspector Jeff Minten of London said the cause is "undetermined'' at this point.

He said it could be some time before a cause is determined.

Minten spent two days probing the fire along with Scott Doman, fire inspector with the Chatham-Kent Fire Service and police investigators.

Julia Morrison of Chatham couldn't be happier that the green light was given to re-open the hotel.

Morrison's daughter, Julie Ann Thorpe, is planning to get married today and hold her reception at the Retro Suites Hotel.

Morrison was frantic Thursday, worried about where the reception for 100 guests would be held if the hotel remained closed.

But hotel manager Nancy Labadie said arrangements were made to hold the reception at another venue in the event the hotel remained closed.

The front of the Bates building, just south of the hotel, was shored up Friday to ensure it did not cave outward.

Fire and police officials noticed a bulge in the front top of the building Thursday and cordoned off William Street from King to Wellington Streets.

The portion of roadway was expected to be re-opened late Friday.

Labadie said despite the fire in the adjacent apartments, there was no damage in the main part of the 28-room hotel.

A large cleaning crew spent Friday cleaning furniture and ridding the hotel of any residue smoke smell.

Labadie said hotel guests began checking in early Friday afternoon for the holiday weekend.

"Chatham-Kent is still open for business despite the fire,'' said economic development director Kathy Weiss, in a media release.

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Source: Retro Suites Hotel