Restaurants & Bars
Original Joe's Walnut Creek Closed Due To Kitchen Fire Days After Opening
A small fire broke out in the kitchen Monday night, though the owners say they hope to be back in business again soon.
WALNUT CREEK, CA — The new Walnut Creek location of Original Joe's is temporarily closed due to a kitchen fire, the restaurant announced. The fire took place just four days after the new location's grand opening last Thursday.
"Due to a minor kitchen fire, Original Joe’s in Walnut Creek is temporarily closed," the famed Italian restaurant said in a social media statement Tuesday.
"Thankfully, everyone is safe with no injuries. We are grateful to the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District for their quick response and containment. We apologize for this inconvenience and appreciate your understanding. Thank you to everyone - from the Greater East Bay region and beyond - who joined us as we opened our doors. We are truly humbled by your excitement and patience during an incredible opening weekend. We look forward to reopening as quickly as possible and will share updates as they become available."
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The Contra Costa County Fire Protection District got a call about a small fire at 12:08 a.m. Monday, according to a report from the Bay Area News Group. They were able to put it out almost immediately, but the back interior wall in the restaurant suffered smoke damage.
Investigators say the fire was accidental, and some was still on-duty, according to the Bay Area News Group.
Find out what's happening in Walnut Creekfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The Walnut Creek location was the famed San Francisco restaurant's first East Bay location. The original Original Joe’s was opened in 1937 as a 14-stool counter in San Francisco’s Tenderloin district by Croatian immigrant Tony Rodin. It quickly became known for its abundant portions, reasonable prices, and well-prepared Italian-American comfort food like hamburgers, steaks, pastas, and seafood, and began attracting up to six million visitors a year.
The Duggan family, which owns the restaurant, joined Walnut Creek officials last Thursday for a ribbon cutting and the proclamation of Aug. 14 as "Original Joe's Day" in Walnut Creek.
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