Business & Tech
Fire At Restaurant Closes Business As Owner Fights Cancer: 'Really Hard Right Now'
"Everything's really hard right now," the owner of the Green Chile Cantina said Sunday. She and her husband plan to rebuild and reopen.
MISSION VIEJO, CA — A Mission Viejo business owner who was already battling cancer now faces another challenge after an early morning fire shuttered her restaurant, likely for months.
Shortly before 7 a.m. Sunday, firefighters rushed to Green Chile Cantina, 23641 Via Linda, after receiving reports of smoke coming from the roof, according to the Orange County Fire Authority. They encountered heavy smoke inside the restaurant but were able to knock down the fire in 25 minutes.
No one was hurt, but owner Angelina Esqueda said it will take at least six months to reopen — possibly up to a year.
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“Everything’s at a standstill now,” she said.
The fire comes just months after she and husband, Tony Esqueda, opened their business in August, according to The Orange County Register. Located in the former High Park Tap House, the couple serve up New Mexican flavors with offerings such as green chile dip, fry bread and red chile burritos.
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But the opening didn’t go as planned — Angelina Esqueda was diagnosed with stage three T-cell lymphoma just days beforehand, the newspaper reported.
“Everything’s really hard right now,” the 49-year-old said Sunday.
The couple plan to rebuild and are hoping insurance will cover the damage, which includes seven holes in the roof, a burned kitchen and a broken pipe that flooded the restaurant, according to Angelina Esqueda.
The cause of the blaze was under investigation Sunday.
“It seems like it’s electrical but we don’t know for sure,” she said. “It was so burnt out.”
In the meantime, Angelina Esqueda and her family are focusing on her recovery. A fundraiser to help cover her medical bills featuring cars from Hot Rods Unlimited will go on as planned 1-4 p.m. Saturday in the restaurant’s parking lot.
In the months since her cancer diagnosis and in the hours since the fire, Angelina Esqueda said the local business community has rallied around her and her husband.
“We really appreciate everybody’s support,” she said.
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