Taco Time restaurant damaged in August fire set to reopen in 2009
Final date, though, is still up in the air
By Katie Pizza
Argus Observer
Saturday, November 22, 2008 8:12 PM PST
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| The exterior of Taco Time, situated at 1657 E. Idaho Ave. in Ontario, as seen Thursday afternoon. The interior of the building underwent a great deal of smoke damage in August, according to Taco Time owner Karl Bomberger. However, he said the restaurant is tentatively slated to reopen sometime next year. |
Ontario ” The Taco Time restaurant damaged in an August fire, is slated to open its doors again early in 2009.
The Aug. 23 blaze at the restaurant, situated at 1657 E. Idaho Ave., Ontario was fist reported by an alert Oregon State Police trooper who spotted smoke coming from the roof. Troopers also helped to rescue three employees at about 10 a.m. that morning.
“It was an electrical fire,” Ontario Taco Time owner Karl Bomberger said in a phone interview Thursday.
Bomberger said the blaze was caused by a neon sign.
Bomberger said most of the “cosmetic” items were ruined by smoke damage. However, some of the stainless steel cooking equipment came through unscathed, with soap and water able to rectify the smoke damage. The rest of the items, he said, were not so lucky.
“It was down to concrete and stud frames,” he said. “We’re starting everything over.” Starting everything over, he said, is going to cost close to half a million dollars because of the equipment, seating, carpet and floor covering that must be replaced.
“We stripped the store completely,” he said. Bomberger said the restaurant was opened in 1994 and is one of two Taco Times he owns. The second Taco Time, he said, is situated in La Grande. He also said he plans to reopen the doors soon.
“We’re really shooting for the second of January,” he said.
However, he said he was not sure how firm that date would stand “because of the holidays.” The final opening date, he said, may not be until mid-January.
“It depends how quickly we can get this put together,” Bomberger said.
Payette-based contracting company Cleanup and Total Restoration is currently at work on the building, according to the company’s general contractor.
“We’re rebuilding the whole thing,” General Contractor Jim Grimdall said. Bomberger said pre-electrical work has been done on the building.
Bomberger said he saw a silver lining to the fire, since so much of the restaurant needs to be replaced.
“We’re going to have a new look,” he said.
