Workers began removing debris from Micha’s Restaurant on South Fourth Avenue on Monday after getting the OK to begin reconstruction of the 42-year-old eatery that was shuttered by a kitchen fire in mid-April.
Alex Franco, whose family owns Micha’s, said the cleanup could take two weeks. When it’s finished, they will begin work to rebuild the kitchen and two dining rooms that were destroyed in the April 13 blaze.
The fire started in the kitchen, but Franco said Monday that a cause still has not been determined. A final damage estimate also has not been determined, he said.
Franco said the work could take several months and could top $300,000.
“We have to redo the kitchen and two of the dining room areas (nearest the kitchen) are going to need to be redone,†he said, adding that he hoped to have the work finished and the restaurant open for business by October with the caveat: “If everything goes right.â€
People are also reading…
“But you know how that goes.There’s always something that happens,†Franco said.
Meanwhile, Micha’s had to close the food truck it launched early this month across the street from the restaurant because of the construction work. Franco said the big concern was that dust and other airborne debris from the construction could interfere with the food truck, which the family unveiled as a way to continue feeding customers until they reopened the restaurant.
Franco said Friday was the last time they served burritos and tacos from the truck, which he is hoping to feature in a few area food-truck roundups. The restaurant will post food-truck locations on its Facebook page —facebook.com/MichasRestaurant
Micha's reopened a year ago: Here's a look at the fire that caused the eatery's closure
Micha's Fine Mexican Foods
Tucson Fire Dept. ladder trucks pour water on the roof during a fire at Micha's Fine Mexican Food in South Tucson early Saturday, April 14, 2018.
Micha's Fine Mexican Foods
A Tucson Fire Dept. ladder truck pours water on the roof at Micha's Fine Mexican Food in South Tucson early Saturday, April 14, 2018.
Fire at Micha's Restaurant
Tucson Fire Department ladder trucks pour thousands of gallons on the roof of Micha's Fine Mexican Food in South Tucson early Saturday, April 14, 2018.
Fire at Micha's Fine Mexican Food
The crew of Tucson Fire Ladder 10 walk through the debris in the parking lot after a fire at Micha's Fine Mexican Food in South Tucson early Saturday, April 14, 2018.
Fire at Micha's Fine Mexican Food
Debris in the parking lot after a fire at Micha's Fine Mexican Food in South Tucson early Saturday, April 14, 2018.
Fire at Micha's Fine Mexican Food
The crew of Tucson Fire Ladder 10 look at damage to the roof after a fire at Micha's Fine Mexican Food in South Tucson early Saturday, April 14, 2018.
Fire at Micha's Fine Mexican Food
Tucson firefighters from TFD Ladder 10, one of the closest TFD stations to South Tucson, look at the damage to the roof after a fire at Micha's Fine Mexican Food in South Tucson early Saturday, April 14, 2018.
Fire at Micha's Fine Mexican Food
Danny Pollanes, who worked at Michas's periodically to help clean up and water, gazes at the debris in the parking lot after a fire at Micha's Fine Mexican Food in South Tucson early Saturday, April 14, 2018.
Micha's Fine Mexican Foods
Gilbert Mariscal reads the paper as customers file in at Micha's restaurant. Gilbert is the oldest son Gilbert and Artemisa Mariscal, who founded the restaurant in 1976.
Micha's Fine Mexican Foods
Carey Lacey of Tucson laughs with some friends at Micha's Restaraunt on South Fourth Ave., after taking a tour of South Tucson in 2000. Lacey was one of about 30 kids to participate in the Catalina Foothills School District's Spanish Camp.
Micha's Fine Mexican Foods
George Gomez cleans a shrine area honoring Micha's founders Gilbert and Artemisa Mariscal. Customers have added other religious symbols of their own throughout the years.
Micha's Fine Mexican Foods
Cook Lupita Dominguez prepares an e-mailed food order at Micha's Restaurant, 2908 South Fourth Ave. in 2006. Dominguez had been with the restaurant for 17 years.
Micha's Fine Mexican Foods
Gilbert and Artemisa "Micha" Mariscal, front, founders of Micha's in front of the original restaurant in South Tucson with family members and workers in 1983.
Micha's Fine Mexican Foods
Gilbert Mariscal, left, owner of Michas's, and South Tucson Mayor Enrique Serna in front of Micha's Fine Mexican Foods in South Tucson just after an extensive expansion in 1984.
Contact reporter Cathalena E. Burch at cburch@tucson.com or 573-4642. On Twitter @Starburch
Cathalena E. Burch
Reporter
