SOUTH TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — A beloved South Tucson restaurant has reopened its doors after more than two years of rebuilding following a devastating arson fire that forced the family-owned business to close.
Crossroads Restaurant, located on the corner of 36th Street and Fourth Avenue, celebrated its grand reopening last Saturday, marking the end of a long road to recovery for the community staple.
On August 13, 2023, a man set the building on fire in the middle of the night. Although the man was caught on surveillance camera, he has not yet been identified, according to South Tucson Police, who confirmed the fire was arson.
“Since we reopened–a lot of emotion, I think, joy, because that week that we received our license to operate from the health department, it was like, I was in tears as soon as we saw it. I still wanted to cry every time that I remember,” Aracely Gonzalez said.
For co-owner Gonzalez, who runs the business with her husband Roberto, reopening wasn’t just about rebuilding a restaurant, but also about restoring a legacy.
“No, we never have that idea not to be back. You know, it’s a lot of our family legacy. And then like you saw my kids are part of the third generation. So, it’s something that we had to bring it back,” Gonzalez said…