Los Hermanos holds soft opening for Orem restaurant
Los Hermanos' new location at University Place in Orem is pictured at the soft opening on Friday, April 19, 2019.
Los Hermanos' new location at University Place in Orem is pictured at the soft opening on Friday, April 19, 2019.
Restaurant owner Lisa Witham stands at the front doors of Los Hermanos' new location at University Place in Orem at the soft opening on Friday, April 19, 2019.
Los Hermanos' new location at University Place in Orem is pictured at the soft opening on Friday, April 19, 2019.
Los Hermanos' new location at University Place in Orem is pictured at the soft opening on Friday, April 19, 2019.
Los Hermanos' new location at University Place in Orem is pictured at the soft opening on Friday, April 19, 2019.
Los Hermanos' new location at University Place in Orem is pictured at the soft opening on Friday, April 19, 2019.
Los Hermanos' new location at University Place in Orem is pictured at the soft opening on Friday, April 19, 2019.
Los Hermanos' new location at University Place in Orem is pictured at the soft opening on Friday, April 19, 2019.
Los Hermanos' new location at University Place in Orem is pictured at the soft opening on Friday, April 19, 2019.
Los Hermanos' new location at University Place in Orem is pictured at the soft opening on Friday, April 19, 2019.
Los Hermanos' new location at University Place in Orem is pictured at the soft opening on Friday, April 19, 2019.
Los Hermanos' new location at University Place in Orem is pictured at the soft opening on Friday, April 19, 2019.
Los Hermanos' new location at University Place in Orem is pictured at the soft opening on Friday, April 19, 2019.
Los Hermanos hosted a soft opening Friday for its new location at University Place in Orem.
The Orem restaurant opened a little more than two months after Los Hermanos’ location on Center Street in Provo was destroyed in a fire Feb. 11.
Restaurant owner Lisa Witham was emotional as she expressed her feelings about the soft opening.
“We’re so happy, so excited, and we’ve had so many people help us and we believe miracles and miracles, just doing this, and our family’s come together,” Witham said. “It’s been just more than you can even take in, everything that’s happened in the past few months, the fire, and then everything that’s come together for this, and it’s just incredible.”
Witham said Los Hermanos signed a lease March 11 with University Place and has been “working tirelessly” to open the Orem location, which includes a garden room inspired by the restaurant’s original Provo store and large dining areas for families, weddings, business meetings and other group events.
“All my kids and neighbors and our relatives all came in and helped us and we just pulled it together, and our cooks hung on and our employees hung on, and now we’re back, so it’s better than ever,” Witham said. “We just don’t believe in quitting.”
The new restaurant, which replaced The Old Spaghetti Factory at 575 E. University Parkway in Orem near Tucanos Brazilian Grill and Itto Sushi, will now be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday through Saturday, and closed Sundays.
“We’ll be open … but not shouting it out, so we just be sure we get in our groove again,” Witham said. “We’re so excited. We’re just going to plow ahead, and I’m excited about the space.”
Witham said there are plans to hold a grand opening at the Orem Los Hermanos in a couple of weeks.
First customers Becky Moore of Orem and her daughter Emily Bennett and son-in-law Joel Bennett of Payson said they have been going to Los Hermanos for years.
“We were really excited for coming here because it was closer to Orem and is a little better location for parking,” Joel Bennett said.
Emily Bennett said Los Hermanos “did a really great job redecorating.”
“It’s beautiful in here,” Emily Bennett said.
“We love Los Hermanos, always will, always have, so we’re excited that they’re back,” Moore added.
Mike and Greta Crockett, who met working at Los Hermanos in Provo and are celebrating their 10th anniversary this year, said attending the soft opening was “nostalgic” for them.
“We heard about the soft opening, wanted to come and support, excited for Los Hermanos and the new location,” Mike Crockett said. “It looks actually really neat. Definitely an upgrade from their most recent Provo location and kind of reminds me of the original location.”
A Los Hermanos booth dedicated to the Crocketts survived the fire because it was in storage at the time. Los Hermanos was also able to salvage a few items from the Provo location, including a quilt Witham’s children made with some of the restaurant’s T-shirts and a buffalo head decoration, which both hang in the entrance of the Orem store.
“We think very fondly of (Los Hermanos),” Greta Crockett said. “It holds a close place to our heart, so it’s fun to still see it and come and see our booth. … Maybe one day our kids will work here.”