Two months after the Eaton Fire, a popular Mexican restaurant is once again serving up margaritas and tacos in Altadena.
Owner Maggie Cortez told KNX News’ Karen Adams that El Patron wasn’t damaged in the fire, but other businesses around it were destroyed. She wasn’t sure if her restaurant would survive the community’s devastation.
“I was worried,” she said. “Like 85% of my family, my customers, they're not here no more. I was worried that was not gonna help business.”
But Cortez said that after reopening this week, things have been busy enough that she’s thinking about hiring more workers.
“It's a lot of people even at lunchtime,” she said. “I think with just two people we can't handle it, not anymore.”
Yolanda McCreary, who lost her home in the fire, said seeing El Patron reopen has her excited about the future of Altadena.
“It’s just been so hard, so it’s the first sign of hope and it just makes me feel so good,” she said.
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El Patron opened in Altadena 15 years ago.
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