Rebuilt Ferguson’s opens for business

Ten months after fire destroyed Ferguson’s Café, the landmark Garland-area restaurant reopened Monday as a practically all-new eatery.

“We’re pretty fortunate to be here,” said Jason Dias, the diner’s cook. “I’m excited to be here. Words can’t describe.”

Owner Dave Jones and his crew scrambled to open in time for lunch, making a list of final grocery items, prepping the food, plugging in the cash register and cleaning the bathrooms.

As two regular customers approached about 11:30 a.m., Jones threw open the door with the greeting, “Come on in!”

After months of rebuilding, Jones said he came to realize that what he’s missed most is seeing the customers. What he’s looking forward to the most, he said, is “just getting back to normal.”

The blaze that ripped through Ferguson’s and seriously damaged The Milk Bottle – which reopened in May – erupted Sept. 25 after both restaurants had closed for the night. Flames shot up over the rooftops, eventually burning through Ferguson’s interior and toppling its neon sign.

Fire investigators have not determined what caused the fire that sparked between the two buildings in the Garland Business District, and it’s still considered an open investigation, according to the Spokane Fire Department. The damage was estimated at $2.5 million for both establishments, most of which was to Ferguson’s.

“Those pictures have a couple water spots, but they made it,” said Jones, pointing at pictures taken when scenes from “Benny and Joon,” starring Johnny Depp, were filmed in the restaurant. He had to buy a new movie poster for “Vision Quest,” another film shot at the diner.

“We cleaned up a couple of the booths that were here during the fire … but other than a couple walls, we pretty much had to rebuild everything,” he said.

Although Jones declined to give an exact figure for the repairs, he said he spent thousands more than the insurance covered.

The neon Ferguson’s Café sign alone cost $19,000, Jones said. “It was almost like hanging a new car up there, almost as fancy.”

Two of the first customers through the door on Monday have followed Jones as he’s moved between different Spokane restaurants.

“We missed him,” Bob Robertson said. “This is our favorite place in Spokane. We like his food.”

His wife, Ann, added, “And we like him.”