SEQUIM — A Mexican restaurant in Sequim has reopened after two months of repair work to replace an aged fire-suppression system in the kitchen.
Las Palomas Mexican Restaurant, 1085 E. Washington St., reopened Wednesday after closing Sept. 16.
Inspectors with the city and Clallam County Fire District No. 3 said the fire-suppression system servicing the grill’s hood needed to be replaced following a small fire, said co-owner Fernando Lopez, 52.
“We are happy to be here again, and our regular customers are happy, too,” he said.
Fernando has co-owned the restaurant with his younger brothers Miguel Lopez, 50, and Javier Lopez, 48, for the past 18 years.
The brothers, who were born in central Mexico, bought it from their brother-in-law Mauricio Cisneros, who now operates a business in Port Townsend, Fernando Lopez said.
He said he enjoys working with his three brothers.
“It is good,” he said. “We like to eat together,” especially on Sundays after church.
“It is like a family reunion.”
The September fire drained a bottle of fire retardant that is no longer made, which forced the brothers to purchase a new $20,000 system, Fernando said.
“We could not replace the tank,” he said.
During renovations, the wall behind the grill area, the hood, plumbing and electrical wiring servicing the kitchen were all replaced, Fernando said.
Brand-new system
“Now we have a brand-new” system, he said.
“It is nice because we will have it for many years” to come, he said.
“It is expensive but worth it.”
About 14 employees work at the restaurant, Fernando said, adding that it has been hard for them during the closure “because they have been dependent on this business.”
With that in mind, the brothers worked as quickly as possible to complete repairs and reopen, he said.
“We started to push everything to have everything ready. We were on top of” the construction crew to get it done, he said.
Lourdes Lopez, 49, Fernando’s wife, who has worked at the restaurant as a server for the past 18 years, said the closure was boring “because I just want to be here most of the time.”
She usually works six days a week, a schedule she has maintained for 18 years, she said.
“I enjoy it. I prefer to work [than] to be at home,” she said.
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Chris McDaniel can be reached at 360-681-2390, ext. 5052, or cmcdaniel@peninsuladailynews.com.
