By Anita Miller
San Marcos — Friday's fire at Herbert's Grocery and Taco Hut left many new Texas State graduates scrambling to find another place for the family’s celebratory meal.
Likewise, owners of the popular San Marcos restaurant say they're eager to get back in business.
"We had a big party (planned for) tonight," owner Dora Rizk said on Friday, an hour or so after most fire crews had cleared the scene. "There's graduation this weekend,” she added, acknowledging commencement exercises at Texas State.
The grocery and restaurant, located along Riverside Drive, share a common roof. Rizk said the family hasn’t yet decided whether to open just the restaurant, which sustained only smoke damage, or both businesses.
They were initially hopeful that damage from the electrical fire would be less than it appeared; however, a city inspector found structural damage, meaning it will be at least two weeks before they can plan on reopening.
“The city’s the hard part,” Anthony Rizk said Saturday morning, referring to safety and construction code requirements. “The city’s the one that can delay you another two weeks.”
The fire appears to have started in the kitchen, and San Marcos Fire Lieutenant Rick Rowell credited the fact no one was injured to fast action on the part of an employee.
"One of the employees noticed it and called 911 and got everybody out of the building and got herself out after talking with 911. Kudus to her, she did a great job," Rowell said.
More than a dozen tables in the restaurant were occupied at the time.
When fire crews arrived they "could tell it was a bad problem," Rowell said, because "smoke was coming out of the eaves and gable area," which usually indicates structural damage.
"Once a fire gets that far it's hard to bring it back. These guys did a real good job stopping that fire given the age of the building," Rowell said, in a nod to the 15 firefighters who battled the blaze.
Rizk said the grocery had been in business since 1972, with the restaurant added on in 1976.
Rowell said the floor plan was "confusing, which delayed our being able to get where the fire was actually burning." Also, "The ceilings were low, which made smoke bank down a lot quicker."
Rowell said firefighters reached the scene two minutes after the 911 call.
Fire Marshal Ken Bell on Friday acknowledged that hidden factors might delay a swift reopening.
“People forget about mechanical systems, like electrical wires in walls that might have melted or been damaged, or gas leaks. It might look structurally sound but it’s little things that are needed to get up to speed.
Bell said the Rizk family “seems to be on the right track. They’re pretty proactive on the back side of this thing.” He said there was nothing suspicious about the fire.
Evidence of the restaurant's popularity included the prominently displayed framed photos on the wall of Rizk family members with the rich and famous.
Just who is represented there?
"There's my George Strait," Rizk said. "There are lots of pictures from people that have been here," she added, including actor G.W. Bailey, former Longhorn Ricky Williams and "Dallas Cowboy players."
