A new sign was recently mounted on the rebuilt Lou’s Grill 16 months after the original restaurant was destroyed in a fire. Kelvin Gawley/Abbotsford News

A new sign was recently mounted on the rebuilt Lou’s Grill 16 months after the original restaurant was destroyed in a fire. Kelvin Gawley/Abbotsford News

Lou’s Grill close to reopening after devastating 2016 fire

Popular restaurant was gutted in an accidental fire

Lou’s Grill has risen from the ashes.

The popular Gladys Avenue restaurant was gutted by flames in early October 2016 and has been closed since, as crews rebuild.

Soon after the blaze, manager Michael Loukas told The News he would keep all 55 staff members on the payroll as the restaurant was rebuilt. He also said, at the time, that he planned to reopen Lou’s by summer 2017. But that plan didn’t come true.

Now more than 16 months since the last time Lou’s served burgers and beers to the public, a grand reopening appears in sight.

“We are looking forward to serving our clients again sometime late April, early May,” Loukas said in an email. “Our builders and the city have helped us immensely and are doing a good job in the rebuilding of Lou’s Grill 2.0.”

Loukas said he will also be hosting a hiring fair sometime in the coming weeks.

In a recent Facebook post, Lou’s celebrated the mounting of its new red sign and thanked Abbotsford residents for their support during the rebuilding process.

“Thank you from the bottom of our hearts and we miss you too!”

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