By Carla Zanoni
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
INWOOD — Weeks after a fire tore through a commercial and residential building on Broadway, one of two retailers affected reopened its doors on Monday.
Broadway Munchies, a sandwich and burger restaurant at 4996 Broadway, between Isham and West 212th streets, reopened after owner Alex Cruz and his crew made repairs to damage caused by smoke and water from a fire on Thursday, Dec. 16.
Workers at the restaurant on Monday night said they were happy to be back on the job, where the smell of smoke from the fire still hung in the air.
"It took a lot of work, but we’re OK," said the chef in Spanish.
Several Twitter users and neighborhood bloggers had voiced concern about Broadway Munchies — a favorite neighborhood spot — closing, and rejoiced when the neon lights were turned back on and the first burger was grilled.
The restaurant announced its reopening on Twitter.
"We're back in business!" the owner wrote on Tuesday.
"HEYYYY!!! YAY!! Broadway MUNCHIES is BACK!," @NewMutant tweeted.
The restaurant had sustained damage during a raging fire that gutted neighboring store Lei by Lisa, as well as a second floor apartment where two adults lived with a child. Nobody was hurt.
The family is now living with friends, according to a spokesman from Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez's office.
The fire was caused by faulty electrical wiring at Lei by Lisa, according to the FDNY.
The owners of Lei by Lisa have not been seen at the store by neighbors since the fire and have not been reachable by phone since then.
