By Carla Zanoni
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
INWOOD — A popular burger restaurant that sustained smoke and water damage from a raging fire that gutted a neighboring store and upstairs apartment plans to reopen next week after repairs are completed this holiday weekend.
Owner of Broadway Munchies Alex Cruz, 42, said he and his staff have been working around the clock to reopen the restaurant, at 4996 Broadway, and get the staff back to work.
"Six families are affected by this fire just at my businesses," he said. "Nobody is making money."
Despite the unfortunate circumstances, Cruz said he was taking the opportunity to make necessary upgrades to the store while making repairs and feels confident the restaurant will be better when it reopens.
The owners of Lei by Lisa, where the Dec. 16 fire started, have not been seen at the store by neighbors since the fire and were not reachable by phone.
Two adults and a child who lived above the store and were vacated after severe damage to their apartment are currently living with family members, according to a spokesman from Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez's office.
Fire officials said the fire began inside Lei by Lisa because of faulty electrical wiring.
