Tomasita’s in Albuquerque has been closed since Thursday after a fire damaged parts of the restaurant. Its employees, though, will remain busy this Balloon Fiesta.
More than 25 Tomasita’s employees have secured temporary jobs while the fire-damaged establishment remains closed during the international event.
Sadie’s of New Mexico co-owner William Stafford said his restaurant stepped in to offer jobs to workers affected by the fire.
“We’re in our 72nd year here in the North Valley, my aunt Sadie started this gig in 1954, and she always always taught us be consistent and be kind-hearted,” Stafford said in an interview.
He said they wanted to reach out to Tomasita’s employees and let them know they had a place to go.
“And it is temporary, but who knows what’s going to happen in the future? A fire like that is very devastating, and we want to make sure that we’re all together in this,” he added
Investigators said an electrical issue involving a bathroom exhaust fan sparked the fire at Tomasita’s. Authorities said the restaurant could remain closed for weeks before it can consider reopening.
Balloon Fiesta Opens Opportunities
Stafford said Balloon Fiesta creates one of the busiest stretches of the year for many businesses. That makes this time especially important for restaurant workers who rely on the extra income, he said.
“This is balloon fiesta time. This is time, right now for people. A lot of people rely on the money that they make during this time, and so I think it’s really important to be able to reach out and say, you know, we’ll take your hand. We’ll take you in. We’ll do what we can for you at this time,” he said.
Yeller Sub and Garcia’s Kitchen have also opened temporary positions for Tomasita’s workers while the restaurant is still closed.
Tomasita’s has yet to announce when it will open its doors again.
