Dented Chef has a dandy return

Business Beat

By Marijke Rowland
mrowland@modbee.com

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The Dented Chef is back and as busy as ever.

The downtown Modesto kitchen and restaurant supply store has reopened after a fire in April that damaged its building.

The shop was buzzing Tuesday as customers returned to find a large sidewalk sale and storewide discounts on inventory.

"We've been welcomed back," said Judi Rackley, who owns the shop with her husband, Larry. "We're not completely organized yet, but (customers) don't seem to care."

The Dented Chef, 1018 13th St., first opened in July 1997 as a restaurant supply salvage store. It has built a solid reputation over the years with restaurateurs and foodies.

On April 19, a trash bin fire behind the store damaged its back wall and ceiling, as well as The Mudroom next door. The ceramics studio has since gone out of business.

Rackley said the store sustained $50,000 to $75,000 in losses from the blaze. She estimates about 20 percent of the store's inventory had to be thrown away.

But she said they were determined to reopen and received encouragement and assistance from friends and clientele.

"We had tons of our friends who came and wiped and washed and helped us get back in business," she said. "People brought us lunch, a lot of the downtown restaurants who have done business with us were very, very kind."

During its five-month closure, the store retained its six employees, all now back on the job.

The store has been remodeled and has expanded its storeroom. Rackley said a larger storeroom will allow the store to better keep up with customer demand.

The Dented Chef's hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

For more information, call 238-3688 or go to www.thedentedchef modesto.com.

Elsewhere around the Business Beat:

The Vintage Faire Mall has a slew of new businesses set to open.

A new clothing store and two new restaurants have just been announced as the latest tenants in the Modesto mall.

Tilly's will move into the spot that was formerly home to Forever 21. In August, Forever 21 moved to the former Gottschalks spot.

The Southern California lifestyle store sells clothing, shoes and accessories aimed at the surf, skateboard and motocross cultures.

Tilly's stocks popular brands including Hurley, Quiksilver, Roxy, Dickies, Fox Racing, Billabong, O'Neill, Paul Frank, No Fear and Levis. It should be open in October.

Also coming soon are Chipotle Mexican Grill and Fresh Grill Mongolian BBQ restaurants. Both are slated to open by the holidays.

Chipotle is a national Mexican chain that specializes in custom-order burritos and tacos. The restaurant will build in the space across from BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse in The Village at Vintage Faire, part of the mall expansion.

The other new restaurant, Fresh Grill Mongolian BBQ, will move into Cafe Row in the former site of Gabby's Taqueria.

Janice Curtin, Vintage Faire senior manager of marketing, said progress is being made on two previously announced stores as well.

Women's clothing retailer Love Culture will open by this weekend in the new Center Court.

The trendy international clothing retailer H&M is in the middle of construction and should be open before Thanksgiving.

And finally, while questions linger over the demise of the original restaurant in Turlock, a new Red Steer opened this month in Modesto.

The downtown Modesto restaurant, in the former site of California Mongolian BBQ, serves carved meats and sandwiches.

In May, the 41-year-old Turlock Red Steer on Golden State Boulevard near Main Street was gutted by fire, which caused more than $1 million in damage.

In July, co-owner Tracy Smith was arrested with family member Jeremy Britt on suspicion of arson by the Turlock police.

Smith said he and his wife, Shae Smith, are sole owners of the Modesto and Turlock restaurants.

When asked about the allegations and restaurant's legal problems, Tracy Smith said, "I can't talk about them. Through these hard times, we're pushing through."

The Red Steer, 938 11th St., is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. For more information, call 524-8600.

Have an item for Business Beat? Contact Marijke Rowland at The Modesto Bee, P.O. Box 5256, Modesto 95352; 578-2284 or mrowland@modbee.com.