Landmark restaurant to reopen Sunday

CHIMAYO, N.M. (KRQE) - After a grand-opening celebration Saturday, the historic Rancho de Chimayo restaurant in Chimayo is due to reopen Sunday, more than a year after a fire gutted and nearly destroyed the building.

Arson nearly destroyed the 120-year-old structure on July 11, 2008, forcing the owners to spend the next 15 months restoring the building at a cost of $1.5 million.

The closure, according to owner Florence Jaramillo, even hurt neighboring businesses.

"Fifteen months was a long time," she said. "People called every day. We transferred our phones to the bed and breakfast across the street and they even hurt. They were hurting because nobody would come, because we weren't open."

Crews replaced many of the floors of the building, matching them to the original woodwork. They also had to fix the chairs and tables, put in new windows and upgrade the kitchen area.

Even during the closure, Jaramillo said she made sure her staff of 60 continued to receive insurance.

"We're all family that work here," she said. "We all work together."

An open house is scheduled Saturday from noon to 4 p.m., and food service resumes Sunday.

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Also on the Web: Rancho de Chimayo map