First look inside rebuilt Papa Dan’s after long-time restaurant was destroyed in fire

PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) – Papa Dan's will soon make its return to Palm Desert, nearly a year and a half after it was destroyed in a fire.

Papa Dan's, along with three other businesses in Palm Desert, burned down in April of 2024, after an arson attack. The restaurant first opened its doors in 1984.

It's been a long road to recovery. Earlier this year, Ira Mosley, the owner of the beloved restaurant, recounted the hurdles he has had to overcome.

As the restaurant nears reopening early in 2026, it opened its doors to News Channel 3 and Palm Desert city leaders Wednesday afternoon to tour the new space.

It's been a journey fraught with delays.

"The city of Palm Desert has been over the top great in every way, shape and form. But all the other agencies that you have to deal with coordinating with them, there's been, you know, a lot of the hold up," Mosley recounted. Mosley had initially planned to reopen months ago, but 20 months later, Papa Dan's remains off the menu for customers.

"Every delay that could possibly happen has happened," Mosley recalled, exasperated.

Now, though, Mosley said things are beginning to pick up. Crediting the construction company he contracted, IBD Construction, he said progress has reached about 80 percent.

The new site of his restaurant remains in the same plaza, but in a separate building – 1,500 square feet larger than his last space.

The new building previously had floor-to-ceiling glass right by the driveway, too – something that Mosley said would have blinded customers at night with cars' headlights and created excess noise. Mosley scrapped the glass in favor of walls, with smaller triple-pane windows to let in daylight at the top. Every detail has been thoughtful in the reconstruction.

"We tried to duplicate it as best as possible, but unfortunately in the fire, so much of the stuff that was in there were one of a kind that we've collected traveling all over the world that are now ashes," Mosley explained.

It's spacious, and it now has room to house new bar seating – set to be complete with a new bar menu and televisions – and a private dining hall.

"I think [the customers] will enjoy the fact that it's not crammed at the front counter like it used to be," Mosley said, showing us around.

Lighting fixtures, seating, and many kitchen essentials are still yet to be installed. But with new walls put up, countertops in place, and large pizza ovens set in the kitchen, the restaurant is finally shaping up.

Mosley expects to reopen mid-January of 2026. Stay with KESQ as we will have the latest on reopening plans.