BENTONVILLE — The owner of a restaurant destroyed by fire this summer said this week he plans to open it, though he couldn’t say when that will be.
Maria’s Mexican Restaurant at 2503 S. Walton Blvd. sustained heavy damage when a fire broke out in its building about 12:30 p.m. June 29. Firefighters got the fire under control within 30 minutes.
A large hole remains in the roof over what was the restaurant and an adjacent office space that had been occupied last by Warehouse Church. Top 10 Nails & Spa, the building’s only other occupant, wasn't affected by the fire.
The fire started on the exterior of the building’s back side in a wooden crate built to contain cardboard for recycling, according to an investigative report by the Bentonville Fire Department.
The fire probably was caused by a discarded cigarette, though the possibility of another ignition source or motive cannot be ruled out, according to the report.
“Therefore, the cause of this fire is undetermined, but believed to be accidental in nature,” the report states.
Maria’s had been open at its Bentonville location since 1999. Hugo Ortega owns the building and the restaurant as well as other Maria’s Restaurants in Rogers and Fort Smith.
“I’m working now to open back (in Bentonville),” Ortega said.
Michael Huff, Warehouse Church pastor, said the church moved out of the building just a week before the fire. He said he had gotten an “overwhelming sensation” a few weeks before the fire the church had to move as soon as possible.
“I just had a gut feeling something was going to happen,” Huff said. “I just knew we gotta get out of there.”
He couldn’t explain what brought on that feeling.
“Was it God? Was it too much pizza the night before? I don’t know. I’m not telepathic, I can tell you that,” he said.
The church would have lost at least $40,000 worth of equipment if it hadn't moved when it did, though it still had about $5,000 worth of mostly chairs and tables still inside, Huff said.
Huff has moved his church organization to Bella Vista where it has shifted its mission. Warehouse Ministries is no longer a church but rather a service dedicated to providing space for other ministries.
The Warehouse Church sign remains hanging above its old location.
“We haven’t been allowed to get to it,” Huff said. “We want the sign for sure.”