Taqueria Durango destroyed by fire in Overland

Editor's Note: This article was updated at 1 p.m. March 6 to include a link to a GoFundMe effort to support Taqueria Durango. It was updated again at 2 p.m. March 8 to include comments from Taqueria Durango owner Miguel Lopez's daughter, Angelica Lopez.

A fire caused severe damage to Overland restaurant Taqueria Durango at 10238 Page Ave., on Thursday, March 5. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that more than 10 area fire departments responded to a 3:38 p.m. call and that the fire was put out soon after. 

Taqueria Durango owner Miguel Lopez shared the news about the fire on the restaurant’s Facebook page and said there were no injuries.

“Today our precious restaurant suffered a horrific fire,” the post read. “We are completely devastated that our restaurant is destroyed. Everyone is safe. Please keep us in your prayers.” 

Lopez's daughter, Angelica Lopez, works with her family at the restaurant and said the fire started in the kitchen.

“My dad, the cook, they got the extinguishers and tried to put it out, but instead of the fire going out, it just went out of control," she said. "They had to run for their lives. With the smoke, they couldn’t see. At that point, it was more important to save themselves.”

Read More // Local food and beverage pros rally to support Taqueria Durango on March 24

She said the family hopes to reopen the restaurant. “We’re definitely praying and hoping to rebuild, to get it up," she said. "Unfortunately, it takes time.”

Taqueria Durango has been open for more than two decades; Miguel Lopez bought the building a few years ago.

Guerrilla Street Food co-owner Brian Hardesty has started a GoFundMe to help the Taqueria Durango team as they move forward after the fire. 

Adam Rothbarth is the staff writer at Sauce Magazine.