- TFD
Following more than three weeks of investigation into the July 26th Guadalajara Fiesta Grill fire, the Tucson Fire Department is still classifying the incident as “undetermined,” though it did reveal that the origin of the fire was in the southeast corner room of the building.
In response to daily inquires regarding the early morning Guadalajara Fiesta Grill fire, TFD Captain Barrett Baker said in a released statement that based on witness statements; fire patterns and fire dynamics; and other data that investigators collected, “undetermined” was the only acceptable classification for the fire at this time. “TFD does recognize that this was a high profile fire in our community. It should be noted that there were no indications that this was an incendiary fire through the investigative process.”
Baker explained that the “classification of undetermined is assigned when ‘the cause cannot be proven to an acceptable level of certainty’. The exact cause may be determined later with the introduction or discovery of new information.” Shortly after the fire had been contained, TFD declared the building a total loss.
Though Guadalajara Fiesta Grill changed its name and became an independently owned business in November of 2011, this early morning fire on Saturday, July 26, came just months after a small fire at the Guadalajara Original Grill on May 29, 2014, closed down that restaurant. The original location on 1202 E. Prince Rd. opened in 2002 and is currently under renovation.
In related news, a Series 12 liquor license application was received by the Arizona State Liquor Board on Tuesday, August 5th, seven business days following the latest fire, for a business going by the name of “Guadalajara Mexican Grill.” The business address is listed at 4901 E. Broadway Blvd, the former location of TGI Friday’s. The application is to be reviewed by late September. More details on this location to follow. (Editor’s note: We attempted to reach the owner of the Fiesta Grill, but haven’t heard back yet.)
This article appears in Aug 14-20, 2014.
Hope they have fire insurance and sprinklers.
Get the chicken on the grill. That’s great news.
Make sure the sprinklers work. We’ll need Scott Packs!
I’m hoping someone good comes to the old El Parador location on Broadway. Great location but they had mediocre food. guad grill or el charro would clean up there.
Wow what a coincidence. 7 days after the fire they have a new location and submit an app for a liquor license. Commercial real estate rarely moves that fast. TFD investigators should check to see what date the lease was signed on the new property. I bet it was before the fire.
I don’t want to become cynical gringo. Could have had great insurance and a backup plan in place. That shows good leadership.
TGI building was looking bad and this benefits many. Hope it becomes their permanent home.
Thanks for the update!
That TGI location was empty for months. If the owners of Guadalajara want to reopen asap, and their building is destroyed, why wouldn’t they be able to make a deal on that building? No doubt its owners are also very anxious for someone to move on it.
If I owned a business next to to the new Grills. I would have cameras on your neighbor 24/7. You never know who may want to see the tapes some day.
I don’t see the point of insurance fraud unless you burn down your business in order to collect the money to do something like, say, move to the Bahamas. But why do it just to reopen your restaurant? GG was doing good business. The spot on Broadway will be a great locatation.