WALNUT CREEK, CALIFORNIA – Original Joe’s in Walnut Creek, California, was the talk of the town for years before it finally opened this month. People were absolutely giddy—the city even declared its August 14 opening date as “Original Joe’s Day”—and what few reservations were available on OpenTable were quickly snapped up.
Then something terrible happened. Last Monday, a kitchen fire swept through Original Joe’s just after midnight. At the time, Contra Costa Fire told the Bay Area Telegraph that a wall in the kitchen had been damaged.
Readers wrote in to share with us that their hard-won reservations at Original Joe’s had been canceled due to a “kitchen issue.”
At the time, we had hoped this would be a fairly minor hiccup and that Original Joe’s would reopen very quickly. From the initial reports, it was unclear if there was actually any damage to the restaurant.
As the closure stretches into its second week, however, sources tell the Bay Area Telegraph that the damage was more extensive than originally anticipated.
It appears that smoke from what started as a minor kitchen fire has caused lasting damage within the restaurant. Our sources tell us that—even after a week of mitigation efforts—a smoke smell remains, and damage from the fire is still being repaired.
Insurance issues are reportedly also delaying the reopening.
The Bay Area Telegraph stopped by to take a look at Original Joe’s on Monday, August 25, one week after the closure. It does appear that Original Joe’s is hunkering down for a longer-than-anticipated delay in reopening.
The restaurant has printed stickers with a statement about the temporary closure and posted them on every window of the Walnut Creek location.
Workers are now swarming through the building once again, just as they were when we originally visited while Original Joe’s was under construction back in April.
This time, though, they seem to be affiliated with damage restoration companies, presumably there to help with the smoke remediation efforts.
Sources tell us that Original Joe’s may hold a second soft opening when repairs are complete, essentially giving them a redo.
What remains certain is that no fire—or any other worldly event—could deter local diners from seeking out the new Original Joe’s.
Instagram posts about the fire and temporary closure have racked up thousands of likes, as well as hundreds of comments expressing support and asking to be informed as soon as the restaurant reopens.
The most important thing, of course, is that no one was hurt in the fire. If it had happened during business hours or if first responders were slower to respond, things could have been much worse.
It’s unfortunate for a brand-new restaurant that was so hotly anticipated to have a setback like this. With luck—and lots more work—we’re hopeful this fire will eventually be just a tiny blip in the long story of a new Walnut Creek favorite.
We’ll be continuing to follow the story closely. Make sure to join our free 925 News newsletter so we can share regular updates and let you know when Original Joe’s reopens.
What a shame about Joe’s . Any momentum they had has totally fizzled because of that fire.