Suspicious Coney Island Arcade Fire Kills Beloved Cat

Fire photo courtesy Coney Island Photo Diary, Targette the Cat photo courtesy Charles Denson.

Firefighters battled a 2-alarm fire at the Coney Island Arcade around 8:15 last night; according to a preliminary report, the blaze is being described as "suspicious." At one point the flames grew so intense that all of the firefighters were ordered out of the building due to the fear of a building collapse. According to Amusing the Zillion, the operator of the arcade and adjoining games is currently in China attending an amusement expo, and many people in the neighborhood were concerned about the two famous cats that live in the arcade, Target and Targette.

Target escaped the fire, but his sister Targette didn't make it. The firemen found her in the office where she probably died of smoke inhalation, Amusing the Zillion reports. The extent of the damage to the arcade building is unclear, but one witness believes that it will have to be demolished. It's located on the corner of West 12th St and the Bowery, next to the Coney Island Bank Building, which is owned by widely despised "developer" Joe Sitt. (The arcade is not owned by Sitt.)

Last month ScoutingNY posted a gorgeous photo tour of the of the 1923 bank building, which, rumor has it, Sitt wants to demolish. Witnesses said the bank building was not damaged by the arcade fire. And yes, there is a band called Arcade Fire, but they have yet to comment on last night's blaze. In the meantime, here's that great video of them playing "Neon Bible" in an elevator. Enjoy, and pour one out for Targette:

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By John Del Signore in News on May 6, 2010 9:06 AM

Comments [rss]

Robin1369

Targette, you will be missed every day.

Robin1369

Can't you people be a little more humble when someone's beloved cat passes - especially in a manner like this. I would see Target & Targette every night when I walk my dog, these cats were so dear to everyone on the Bowery and our hearts go out to Manny for his loss, we are all feeling the pain, but none as much as the man who these precious cats belonged to.

Jamie McDonald

Why does the Arcade Fire hate pussy so much?

lucyvanpelt

So sad. :(

Splicer

I shouldn't care so much about a cat dying but I do. It replaces my complete lack of concern for other humans.

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

damn ....

Spirit of 76

"damn"? That's all you have to say? Come on, felix, uh, slushie, give us one of your patented "The human race sucks. They should all die!" tirades. You know you want to.

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

Way to put your personal craziness here. and perhaps the fire was intentional but maybe they didn't know about the cats. So what the hell are you talking about now? troll somewhere else. Have some respect for this poor cat.

Spirit of 76

Interesting. The fanatic formerly known as felixthecat rationalizing away possible arson. "Maybe they didn't know about the cats." Yeah, that would make setting fires to somebody's business perfectly acceptable.