SLIDELL, La. — A fire broke out at Las Morritas restaurant on Gause Boulevard Tuesday and quickly consumed the building. In the short time it was open, the restaurant had already gained a devoted following, and the owners said they plan to find a new site to reopen as quickly as they can.
The restaurant is owned by Raul Mendoza and Marisa Reyes. Mendoza said the fire began during roof repairs. The cause is still under investigation, though he was told it may have started with an overheated AC or a wire being cut by accident.
“The smoke was outside and everything started coming down,” said Reyes Wednesday. She and Mendoza were able to make it out of the building safely, as did customers and employees.
Video posted on Facebook by St. Tammany Fire Protection District #1 shows the flames quickly consuming the building. Firefighters were forced to battle them in 95-degree heat. They were able to contain it without significant damage to surrounding buildings.
Las Morritas, though, was a total loss. It had only been open for 8 months, after Mendoza and Reyes spent a year getting it ready to open it. “We didn’t have all the budget, we didn’t have a loan or anything,” said Reyes, “it was all our savings to put in here.”
It did not take long after opening for Las Morritas to get a reputation. “The food is so beautiful, it’s so good,” said customer John Cosgrove, who came by the restaurant Wednesday after hearing the news that it had been destroyed. “Iit’s just sad, they just opened it up, he worked his a** off for this place,” he said, choking up.
The video of the fire racked up hundreds of reactions and shares on the Fire Protection District’s Facebook page. People mourned the restaurant in the comments, calling it “fantastic,” “delicious,” “the best Mexican food in Slidell,” and their “favorite restaurant.”
“They really supported us from the beginning,” Reyes said of the restaurant’s fans.
Now she and Mendoza are asking the community for help to rebuild. A GoFundMe raised hundreds of dollars in less than 24 hours, though it is still far short of the restaurant’s goal.
Reyes said the plan is to find a new building to reopen as soon as possible . “It’s sad, it’s real sad, but it’s not gonna stop us, she said. “We’re gonna come back stronger.”
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