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The Ore House restaurant is undergoing a lengthy restoration process, hoping to reopen in the new year.
“It’s just a long work in progress, it’s going to take probably another six months or so,” said William Abshagen, one of the building owners. “I would say it’s probably going to be the middle of the summer.”
He said the fire caused enough damage that it had to be taken down to the walls and all new plumbing had to be installed. City codes have added an additional layer of complexity in bringing the building back online, he said.
The challenge of restoring a historic building in accordance with city codes has been exacerbated by the presence of asbestos in the building.
“One of the biggest challenges was the asbestos mitigation that has to go through the state,” Abshagen said. “So that was probably a three- to four-month process to have guys in their hazmat suits come down and take out the asbestos, one little piece at a time.”
A staple of the Durango restaurant scene since 1972, the Ore House temporarily shut down on Jan. 2, 2024, when rags with leftover oil residue caught fire, resulting in extensive damage to the kitchen. The restaurant housed a large collection of museum-quality art that sustained significant smoke damage.
“All of our artwork is up at Colorado art restoration services in Denver,” said Ryan Lowe, the restaurant’s owner. “They’re a nationwide specialist in art restoration, and all the artwork will be recovered.”
The staff, a team of restaurant professionals, has been paid for the entirety of the year, Lowe said.
“We had coverage for our entire staff,” he said. “We took out a policy to make sure everyone was covered.”
Abshagen was optimistic the restaurant will make a comeback this year.
“We’re going to come back bigger, with all the latest and greatest ADA bathrooms and all new plumbing and heating and infrastructure,” he said. “And we’re excited to hopefully, you know, be open for another 52 years of successful operation.”
jbowman@durangoherald.com
