Employees Head Back To Work After Strip Mall Fire

Employees at Taqueria San Miguel in Cathedral City have been hard at work — mopping up the old and bringing in all things new.

“New curtains, new seats, new everything,” said restaurant manager, Ivvon Romo.

Come Friday, April 6, the family-owned restaurant will be back in business and Romo said about 13 employees will officially be working again.

“Everybody is like ?it’s my second home, I’m ready to go back.? It’s been a long time, a long time,? said Romo.

Some loyal customers agree.

“I can’t wait until they get back open. I used to eat here at least two or three times a week,” said Laine Taylor.

The Taqueria is reopening exactly four months after an explosion damaged the business and seven others. It?s also just a week after Jesus Hernandez, of Cathedral City, was sentenced to six years in prison for setting that fire back on Dec. 6.

However, Romo said they’re putting the past in the trash and they?re moving forward.

“It was shocking, but now that it’s over with we’ve just got to get back on our feet and and look to getting busy,” said Romo.

Despite a new look, Romo said customers would still get the same great taste of all of their favorite dishes.

“Best bean and cheese burrito in the world,? said Taylor.

“The seafood, they say they can’t find it anywhere else,” said restaurant owner, Carlos Romo.

Some customers just couldn’t seem to wait until opening day.

“This lady came in earlier and she sat down right away, and we’re like it’s not open yet,” said Romo.

The owner said with opening day landing on Good Friday, he’s hoping it will be a ?Good Friday for us, and good Friday for everybody.”

The restaurant will reopen at 8 a.m. Friday morning. The property owner of the plaza said in the next few months, more businesses — some of them new — will also be opening.