WALNUT CREEK, CALIFORNIA – Nearly 10 weeks after a devastating fire closed Lettuce Restaurant & Catering in downtown Walnut Creek, you can still smell the aftermath just walking by outside.
I recently stopped by the restaurant at 1632 Locust Street to see where things stood. The lingering smell of smoke was one of the most striking details — a sad reminder of what happened to a local restaurant that locals loved, and that served some truly delicious salads.
As of this week, the Lettuce signage remains up. But the windows are darkened, fencing blocks access to the small parking lot, and an unsafe-occupancy notice (colloquially called a “red tag”) remains posted on the front door.
From the street, there was little visible indication of progress toward reopening.
The fire broke out a little after 8 a.m. on August 19, according to Bay Area Telegraph’s original reporting.
“It was a single-alarm fire,” Lauren Ono of Con Fire told us at the time. “There was significant fire damage. No injuries.” Photographs sent by a reader showed heavily blackened portions of the interior and debris throughout the restaurant.
Join our free 925 News newsletter for updates on Lettuce and other Walnut Creek restaurant news.
The notice now visible on the door documents the city’s assessment on the day of the blaze. Dated August 19, it identifies “fire damage” as the reason for declaring the structure unsafe to occupy.
“UNSAFE,” the placard reads. “DO NOT ENTER OR OCCUPY.”
It also explicitly states: “THIS PLACARD IS NOT A DEMOLITION ORDER.”
That wording leaves open the possibility of repairing the building. It does not establish whether demolition might eventually be necessary, or specify the extent of any structural damage. Those questions require an assessment beyond what can be determined from the sidewalk.
A peek in the windows shows a mostly empty interior but not much else.
A separate health-department closure notice was also posted on the door during my visit.
There was at least some encouraging news immediately after the fire. According to Patch’s August 19 report, property owner Dave Bowie told KRON4 that the property was insured and that he intended to rebuild as soon as he could. That statement concerned the property; it did not provide a reopening schedule for Lettuce.
We have not confirmed the current status of insurance claims, repair plans or a reopening date. Lettuce’s phone number did not answer and appears to be disconnected.
I had hoped this might turn into a relatively brief interruption for Lettuce. After visiting, my impression is that a quick return looks unlikely. That is an observation based on the condition of the storefront, rather than an official construction timeline, so I hope I’m wrong, as I’d like to enjoy their salads again!
For downtown Walnut Creek, the continued closure leaves a noticeable gap. Lettuce offered a convenient local option for salads, soups, sandwiches and pasta, right across from the Lesher Center for the Arts.
Its sign is still there. Hopefully, customers will eventually be able to walk through the doors again, too.
