Alejandra's in Downtown Visalia welcomes customers back after 2022 fire

VISALIA, Calif. (KFSN) -- In Downtown Visalia, Alejandra's Mexican restaurant is back up and running after a fire destroyed it, forcing the restaurant to close its doors for several years.

A man admitted to starting the fire in a nearby dumpster.

Those flames burned through Décor to Adore, Jimmy Johns and Alejandra's Restaurant, leaving ash and debris.

This week, rebuilt from the ashes more than three years later, the local staple is serving customers again.

"It feels great. The staff, we have all been anxious to return to the community, and the staff is pretty pumped as well, so that makes it a good environment," expresses Saul Altamirano, the General Manager of Alejandra's.

Saul says since it's been open, the busy food spot has seen hundreds of people come through the doors.

Some of the same employees are back, including their entire kitchen staff.

"It's exactly what we expected. Just coming in, getting our chips and salsa," says Geraldine Cole, who has been a customer since 2008.

Geraldine and her colleagues work across the street. For years, they looked out their window waiting patiently for the restaurant to return.

Now that it's back with a different and improved look, some things like the ambiance and familiar faces remain the same.

"I think it's just the nostalgia. It's just something so familiar to Visalia and key and important to Visalia and downtown. It just feels like something's been missing," expresses Geraldine.

The restaurant can now accommodate about 200 people.

Their bar space tripled and now sits 24, the patio has five new tables and their booths fit six, instead of four people.

Despite destruction from the fire, Alejandra's has been able to welcome back their employees and customers, while growing the space by about 20%.

Literally rising from the ashes.

"Once you think about it and reflect on it, you are able to say maybe things happen for the better because now we are able to expand and have more space to feed the community," mentions Saul.

Alejandra's will host their grand re-opening this upcoming Saturday.

The ribbon cutting should happen between 4 pm and 5 pm.

The community is invited.

For more updates about Alejandra's you can visit their social media, here.

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