LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Renshoku Ramen, the ramen restaurant in Old Louisville, reopened its doors for business on Wednesday.
"We are extremely excited," said Zachary Hoffmann, a manager of the restaurant. "It has been a very long road -- literal blood, sweat and tears."
The store closed for two months due to a terrifying set of events that shut it down. In early June, a speeding car hit a tree and parked car, causing the tree to catch fire. The blaze then spread to the restaurant and the apartment units above it.
The driver died in the collision.
"Sadly, the gentleman did pass away," Hoffmann said.
Hoffmann said "the community showed out" after the terrible tragedy.
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Renshoku Ramen decided to return to business, but scars remain on the exterior of the building. There are visible char marks, shattered glass, broken windows and a burnt tree on the corner of 2nd and Oak Streets where the vehicle lost control.
Employees said they are excited to serve customers again.
"Running out of food would be best case," Hoffmann said.
Customers enjoyed fresh noodles at the restaurant in Old Louisville that only stood for about one year before the incident.
"I'm just happy it was open, because she really wanted ramen," said Marcus Alleyne, a customer, with his daughter Diane.
Renshoku Ramen owner Nicholas Robey said his passion for Japanese cuisine started in his childhood, with cheap ramen like Top Ramen and Cup O' Noodles, and anime.
"This was at a time when anime was one shelf at the local video store and $60 a VHS," Robey said.
Robey said it's crucial for him to learn from master chefs, and he's made four trips to Japan to "make sure that I'm on track to selling something that's authentic but also my own."
Looking forward, he wants to work with the city to implement safety provisions.
"We've had lots of issues with cars hitting especially businesses on corners in the area," Robey said.
One suggestion is concrete barriers on the sidewalk out front.
For now, Robey's message to Louisville is "shop local, support small businesses, and drive a little bit slower and be a little bit safer out there on the road."
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