Mel's Bar in Cherry Creek North has been closed since Monday morning, when a fire in the building at 235 Fillmore St. caused extensive damage to the popular eatery. The blaze originated inside the neighboring Madeline's on Fillmore salon, and though the salon was destroyed by the fire, firefighters were able to contain the flames. But the smoke from the fire couldn't be contained as easily, and Mel's sustained extensive smoke damage, along with water damage from the firefighting efforts. Mel's day manager Dominique Leavitt told me yesterday that she hopes to have Mel's reopened by Friday for Christmas Eve reservations, but she seemed less than certain about that possibility. It's going to be a hard week on the staff of both businesses, which had originally planned for a very busy week before Christmas.