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A fire caused damage to the restaurant, at 33 New Britain Ave., nearly 10 months ago and it has been closed for repairs ever since. But those repairs are approaching their conclusion, which is sure to delight the restaurant's loyal clientele. Pellettier said he's always running into people who want to know when the restaurant will reopen.
"I [was out the other day] in Rocky Hill and I ran into three customers," Pelletier said. "Not a day doesn't go by where we don't run into somebody we know from the restaurant asking us 'When are you going to be open? We can't wait for you to be open.'"
When that day comes, customers will get to experience a whole new Bob's. The food and the help will stay the same but nearly everything else is new and improved.
"It's new from top to bottom." Pelletier said. "I'm talking wiring, plumbing, floors, carpeting, ceiling, insulation, everything. It's going to be absolutely gorgeous."
The restaurant is also larger, having expanded to occupy the entire building. Pellettier said the dining room capacity has gone from 76 to 96, which will be a big lift during the weekend rush. Other improvements include two brand new handicap-accessible bathrooms and new counters.
"The fire was a blessing in disguise," Pellettier said. "It was blessing for the landlord because now he has a completely up to code building and Lori and Kenny get a brand new restaurant."
However, the repair process has been long and challenging.
"It took much longer than it needed to," Pellettier said.
According to him, the landlord let the building sit burned for four months after the fire without doing a thing. Once repairs began, the two sides had to determine who was responsible for footing the bill for certain costs. Pellettier said it was a struggle because not everything was spelled out in the lease.
One item of contention was the exhaust hood. Though it was not damaged in the fire, it needed to be replaced because it was not up to code. Pellettier said the hood was there when the owner bought the building 10 years ago but, in the end, he only chipped in a little bit of money for the cost to purchase and install a new one.
One positive off all this time off was Pellettier and Ducki were able to get away. They went to Washington, D.C. last month and Pompano Beach, Fla., over the summer. They also left for a scheduled vacation to Myrtle Beach, S.C., the day after the fire occurred April 11 of last year.
"The fire marshal and everybody said, 'Ken and Lori, there's nothing you can do,'" Pellettier said. "'The restaurant's burned and there's going to have to be a mandatory investigation. You can't even get in, you might as well go on your vacation.'"
The official cause of the fire was never determined - investigators could not locate the point of origin - but Pellettier said it was of an electrical nature.
Pelltier and Ducki have owned and operated Bob's Coffee Shop since May 2006. The restaurant has been in business for more than 20 years.
