Chili's Restaurant reopens after fire

New London, Conn. (WTNH) - A Chili's Restaurant in New London is finally back open after a fire tore through it 10 months ago.

An electrical fire in the kitchen shuttered the restaurant in March.

"It was devastating to wake up one morning and find out you don't have a job," said Liz Mitteness, a server at Chili's.

Liz was among the more than 50 people who were suddenly out of work. Some were served up jobs at other Chili's restaurants in the area but most had to start from scratch.

"It's beautiful they did a really good job," she said.

The restaurant has a new kitchen, new televisions, and a whole new look for this well known chain. About 20 of the employees who worked here when it closed are now back and the staff is bigger than ever.

"We were able to probably bring on an additional forty to forty five people, which is really good," said manager Robert Barker.
108 new jobs go along with this new look.

The mayor is also happy that more jobs have been added.

"A 100 jobs in very good and we're looking for more growth and opportunity over the course of time," said Mayor Martin Olsen (R-New London).