FROSTBURG — El Maya Mexican Bar & Restaurant officially reopened its doors Friday, welcoming back Frostburg residents after winning an uphill battle against the odds.
The restaurant first opened on Feb. 17, 2023, and was an instant hit.
But less than a week after the grand opening, the restaurant was struck by a kitchen fire that forced an extended closure.
“We suffered one of the most difficult events in our lives,” the owners of the business said in a Facebook post shortly after the fire.
El Maya has triumphed despite the accidental fire that occurred last year, blossoming from massive support from the community, which lined up to get in the door during a soft opening Wednesday and Thursday, and unparalleled amounts of perseverance from the owners.
Luis Carrizal Garcia, one of three owners of the establishment, said support from the community has been incredible.
“When the accident happened, many customers prayed and said many beautiful words,” he said. “Everyone has been asking when it will be open.”
According to Garcia, many local residents came directly to the restaurant shortly after the fire to offer assistance.
“The first day after the accident, people came in and brought us things,” Garcia said.
Donations from First Peoples Community Federal Credit Union and sales from T-shirts helped boost the rebuilding process in the months following the fire.
Sergio Barrera Carrizal, another El Maya owner, said the renovation process since the fire was slow but steady.
“The investigation took a long time,” he said.
The third owner, Jose Juan Lopez Tavares, has been a key figure in the renovations of the restaurant, essentially having to build the interior from the ground up.
“I’ve been working in the kitchen a lot, rebuilding everything,” Tavares said.
“At first, it was hard finding people to do the job,” said Tavares. “But we found the best of the best.”
According to Tavares, more renovations are scheduled, including a new parking lot and restructuring of the current one.
In addition to a complete interior renovation, the restaurant now has a state-of-the-art fire suppression system.
The three owners have their roots in Mexico, traveling to the United States for employment opportunities. They met in Morgantown, West Virginia.
They hail from the state of Jalisco in the southwestern area of the country that borders the Pacific Ocean.
Tavares said the three have worked in the service industry since arriving in the U.S.
They all started as dishwashers while working to secure ownership of their own restaurant.
“I started as a dishwasher, wiping tables,” Tavares said. “Then a chip runner.”