Cuckoo’s Chicken House & Waterin’ Hole plans to reopen Wednesday following a flood that forced the restaurant to close for five months.
Water from a broken pipe damaged most of the restaurant’s walls, floors, ceilings, electrical wiring, furniture and computer systems and it all had to be replaced, owner Michele Redding said. She owns the business on College Drive with her husband, Chris.
“We were completely flooded. It was coming through the walls, through the ceiling,” she said.
As part of the restoration, more booths have been added and dormers on one of the walls were removed, she said. The dining room is now more open but still warm and inviting.
Cabinets above the bar were taken down, which opened it up as well.
Blue pine from beetle-killed trees was used throughout the interior.
“I think it looks gorgeous. It’s taken a long time, but I think it’s beautiful,” she said.
However, much will remain the same.
Cuckoo’s will serve the same menu, keep the same hours and show the same sports programming on TV. The memorabilia was saved and will return.
About 90 percent of the staff also will return, she said. The restaurant employs 26 people, she said.
After 17½ years in business, it never crossed the owners’ minds not to reopen the restaurant.
“Our heart and soul is in this restaurant,” she said.
The restaurant will reopen at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday.
mshinn@durangoherald.com
