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William "Spike" Duflock and his family had lunch in December 2009 at Camacho's Place southwest of El Centro. (JOSELITO VILLERO FILE PHOTO / December 5, 2012) |
Local culinary legend Camacho’s Place has submitted a plan to the county on how it hopes to comply with state law and remains open despite fears it would close.
An as-yet-unnamed contractor has stepped in to help the restaurant’s owners who appeared overwhelmed after taking over the restaurant earlier this year following the matriarch owner’s death in February.
Imperial County Environmental Health Services Deputy Director Jeff Lamoure said the restaurant, along with other local restaurants, needs to have potable water for washing dishes and produce.
The county is in the ongoing process of reviewing the plan that has been submitted, and the next step is to approve the plan and install the system in a timely manner, he explained.
Camacho’s co-owner Rosie Cuellar said she has been overwhelmed with the support shown to the restaurant since it became public Nov. 19 that the restaurant feared closure if it couldn’t afford a new water treatment system to be in compliance.
A local contractor quoted her the daunting amount of roughly $300,000 to bring the restaurant into compliance.
She said she originally asked her daughter to place a notice on the restaurant’s Facebook page with the intention “to let people know we might not be here anymore,” and people began responding with fervor, calling her from all over the country to voice support for Camacho’s Place.
“I can’t believe how kind everyone is,” she said. “I think we’ll be OK. I just can’t believe how nice people are.”
She prefers at this point not to release details of how much the water treatment system will be or when it will be installed as the process continues but assured everyone that for the time being, the famous special quesadillas and more are still being served at Camacho’s Place.
Staff Writer Chelcey Adami can be reached at 760-337-3452 or cadami@ivpressonline.com
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