The state-owned restaurant "El Caney," located in the coastal town of Isabela de Sagua in Villa Clara, reopened its doors this Sunday following a two-year hiatus due to a devastating fire in 2022.
Journalist Henry Omar Pérez confirmed the news on Facebook after attending a visit by Cuban officials to the area, including the Minister of Domestic Trade Betsy Díaz Velázquez. Photos shared online showed the restaurant decorated and equipped with the basic necessities for operation.
"An impeccable restoration, with all the necessary resources to provide quality service, 'El Caney' awaits visitors eager to savor delicious dishes specializing in fresh and tasty seafood," Pérez wrote.
The fire that destroyed the restaurant occurred in the early hours of Sunday, September 25, 2022. The thatched roof of "El Caney" caught fire just hours before it was set to serve as a polling station for the Family Code referendum.
Multiple theories circulated about the cause of the fire, but the government never officially clarified the incident. The most widely accepted theory suggested the fire was intentionally set, with the group Clandestinos suspected of being behind it. A video circulating on social media showed an individual shouting "down with communism" as the flames consumed the building.
Many locals mourned the loss of the restaurant, not so much for its limited menu but for the opportunity to enjoy the sea breeze and the scenic views of the area.