Springfield Mexican restaurant finally reopens after March '12 snowstorm
SPRINGFIELD, Ore. (KMTR) -- It's been nearly four months since the giant, surprise spring snow storm hit Western Oregon and while it may be hard to believe, some folks have just finished cleaning up the mess that the storm left including one beloved Mexican restaurant in Springfield that has now just reopened.
“El Taco Express” just reopened its doors for the first time since March 21st, 2012.
The restaurant has been closed since then after the roof collapsed at the Centennial Shopping Center in Springfield, taking out several businesses including the restaurant.
Many people feared the business wouldn’t come back, just because the doors were closed for so long. However, that wasn’t the case, as the owners of the restaurant say they’ll keep going with their eight year, family owned business.
One of the biggest fears was whether or not customers would come back.
However, in the last week, the restaurants say the lines have been out the door and the support has been tremendous.
“My parents were really worried that you know, we were going to lose a lot of customers and everything but the fact that everybody came back … just was heartwarming,” says Alfredo Campos, an employee at El Taco Express.
“We appreciate your business we're so happy that you came back in and you know we're going to be here for you and thank you, you know, for making us feel welcome,” says Campos.
Many customers NewsSource 16 spoke with on Friday say their glad to have their favorite spot back open.
"We came by here a lot, just checking to see here, we were really like, we wish Taco Express was open!” says Cory Uzelac of Springfield.
The Campos family says the menus and mission remains the same as it was before the snow storm: lots of choices of Mexican food to eat at a low price.
Several other neighboring businesses in the Centennial Shopping center were damaged in the roof collapse as well. The Cash King Liquidators store ended up closing its doors, also a local bistro pub ended up having to rebuild a bar, but is back open.
