Gambino’s reopened Wednesday morning after being closed for nearly two months after a truck crashed through the entrance in January.
To celebrate the grand reopening, owners Aaron and Sheena Boden hosted a Chamber ribbon cutting ceremony with some of their employees and other community members.
Now that Gambino’s is open again, the team is eager to get back to work, Sheena Boden said.
“My staff and myself are all super excited to get back to our normal routine,” she said.
Employee Sophia Sandstrom was working when the accident happened. After feeling the entire restaurant shake and seeing the headlights of a truck through the building, she was in shock.
“I know it sounds stupid, but I thought an earthquake or something was happening,” Sandstrom said. “My brain was trying to put stuff together, and then I saw the headlights and realized it was a truck.”
Sandstrom was not hurt in the accident and was out of work for a few months during the renovations.
“I’m really excited to be busy again and have something to do during the days,” Sandstrom said.
The Bodens started renovations a week after the incident occurred on Jan. 8, but because they were not prepared for such damage, it took longer than expected.
“Normally, if we were going to do a remodel, we would be prepared for it and have an oven already ordered and ready to go,” Sheena Boden said. “It took a little bit of time, but we made it through it.”
Aaron Boden has been involved with prior renovations at Gambino’s Pizza, but this one took the longest because of supply chain issues.
“It’s probably been the slowest remodel I’ve ever done in my life,” he said. “Back in 2012, we gutted this location and rebuilt it entirely in 10 days, so this has been a very long time in that we have had to wait on equipment and contractors.”
Sheena Boden is grateful for the support they received from the community.
“We have had a lot of people reach out and offer to help and told us they were there for us if we needed anything, which has been really kind of everyone,” she said.
As a precaution, the Bodens made sure to add extra reinforcements to the front of the building. They also plan on building concrete bollards in the front of the restaurant but have not gotten to it yet.
While Gambino’s did not add any new features except for the security precautions, they think the news of reopening is enough to get customers through their door.
“I know everyone has been missing it, and I’m sure we will see an increase in customers in the beginning,” Sheena Boden said.
While the accident was a tragic moment for the staff and community, said Sandstrom, it strengthened the bond between employees.
“It brought us closer together,” Sandstrom said. “We check up on one another and see if we are okay.”
Gambino’s Pizza is now back to being open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
“Thank you to everyone’s kind comments and concern for us,” Sheena Boden said. “It was scary for everyone at first, but we’re just trying to look at the positives now that we are going to get back to normal again.”
Reach reporter Camryn Robbinson with more business news at [email protected].
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