Insurance company dispute slows restaurant’s reconstruction
The last day for Rancho de Chimayó’s employees came in September, and while some of the regulars still come by the restaurant, comidas nativas haven’t been served for some time.
Three months after a fire gutted its kitchen, the historic restaurant’s hopes of reopening quickly have been scuttled by a dispute with the insurance company.
“I can’t hire anyone to do anything because they’re disagreeing with certain things that the contractor has to do,” owner Florence Jaramillo said.
Jaramillo had hoped to reopen the 19th-century hacienda on Sept. 20, with its northern New Mexican cuisine and signature Chimayó Cocktail being prepared in a portable kitchen. But, then, over the summer, she learned the restaurant’s walls had to be stripped down to the adobe to ensure it was dry, thereby delaying the reopening date.
“It’s kind of sad,” Jaramillo said last Friday. “Today’s our anniversary.”
In the meantime, Jaramillo has watched as most of her 60-some employees took other jobs and tour groups visiting the region during the busy Balloon Fiesta are turned away. She’s now wondering what to do about two wedding reservations for May.
“Boy, if I wrote a book, this is one chapter I would jump over,” she said.
Jaramillo has worked at the Rancho de Chimayó for all of its 44 years, while the building itself has been in the family since it was built, which she said was in 1865, although some sources cite other dates in the 1800s for the construction.
The fire was reported around midnight on Thursday, July 10. Jaramillo arrived just in time to see the flames more than 20 feet high pluming off the building’s south side. Firefighters had to use a ladder truck to pull the tin roof off the building to get at the blaze.
Many of the firefighters who finally extinguished the blaze at about 2:30 a.m. had worked at the restaurant at one time. The restaurant is filled with pictures that are more than 100 years old, as well as antiques and family heirlooms. None were damaged.
While the cause of the blaze was not immediately known, Jaramillo said fire investigators have determined that it was arson because a fire accelerant was detected at the scene.
Jaramillo said she would rather not discuss the arson, or whatever leads law enforcement might have, because she does not want to give the culprit any attention.
Jaramillo said the experience has made her realize how essential the restaurant has been in the community, in terms of drawing people to area businesses and employing part-time students.
Despite the slow pace of reconstruction, Jaramillo says progress is being made. Workers are finishing scraping down the walls and checking the adobe for smoke damage. There’s a new roof and Jaramillo hopes to soon come to an agreement with the insurance company.
If things go smoothly, Rancho de Chimayó could be serving its signature tequila-and-apple-cider cocktail by April. “I just want to get open,” Jaramillo said.
