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Nearly three years after a fire ripped through it, the landmark South Tucson eatery has made a triumphant return.

On Jan. 31, the Crossroads was resurrected, declaring it's back, and showing off a buffet filled with cheesy quesadillas, crispy chimichangas and steaming bowls of posole.

It didn’t take long for patrons to flock to the restaurant at 2602 S. Fourth Ave. On Thursday morning, you could hear owner Aracely Gonzalez repeat “thank you's� as she greeted each table, as the customers congratulated her on the much-anticipated comeback.

“It was emotional to go through this journey and to finally come back to the community was a great feeling,� Gonzalez said.

While various famed Mexican restaurants line South Fourth Avenue, Crossroads is the oldest of them all.

The eatery first started as a drive-in in 1936, serving pitchers of beer and classic Mexican dishes to customers in their cars.

Over time, the restaurant added more inside seating, expanded its seafood menu and often had live mariachi performances.

Disaster struck on Aug. 13, 2023, when emergency calls began reporting a fire at Crossroads around 1:30 a.m. The blaze grew so big that numerous crews from both the South Tucson and Tucson fire departments were called in to fight the flames. The fire was finally under control by 4 a.m. 

The fire collapsed a portion of the roof and left behind a mostly charred shell of the building.

“The only thing that’s the same are the four walls,� Gonzalez said. “We had to redo everything from the roof to the floor.�

South Tucson Police Commander Raul Navarro said Thursday that outside security footage showed “what was likely a male starting the fire and leaving.� The footage wasn’t enough to identify the person, and no arrest has been made.

A new chapter

Crossroads feels alive again.

The building is surrounded by parked cars. Underneath the porch is a vintage cherry red Ford Mustang. A  mannequin stands next to it, wearing a Crossroads shirt and holding a pitcher of beer, paying homage to the eatery's humble beginnings.

The smell of warm corn tortillas and rich red chile fills the inside of the restaurant.

Mariachi music plays above, complementing the vibrant, lively décor. Talavera tiles line the walls along with delicate flower murals, painted by Gonzalez’s 16-year-old daughter.

“I told my husband, it’s taken us this long, might as well make it the most beautiful restaurant ever,� Gonzalez said.

Of course, its beloved buffet is up and running, serving up heaps of chimichangas, pancakes and menudo.

“The tamales are really good,� one customer in line Thursday told the others with a big smile on her face.

The scene brings tears to Gonzalez’s eyes.

“Having it smell like this again is emotional,� she said.

The community is just as excited about the reopening as Gonzalez’s family is.

The restaurant's social media posts have been filled with comments celebrating the return. One commenter said they had to drive away after church last Sunday because of how packed the restaurant was.

And at Crossroads itself, one pair of diners Thursday even hugged a waitress, saying they were happy to be back.

Gonzalez said one customer told her their menudo is better than his wife’s, an admission that left the wife looking at her husband with a shocked face. 

“Customers have reached out to me, saying they’ve been a customer for 54 years, or a customer for 40 years,� Gonzalez said. “We've been part of their families and grew up with them and I want to continue to build those memories for years to come.�

Instead of selling the building or demolishing it, Gonzalez said it was important for them to continue to do what they have been doing for decades and decades: making customers feel like they’re eating their grandmother’s home-cooked meals.  

While they might have had a makeover, the same old Crossroads feeling is apparent once you walk in, almost like it never left.

“I told my kids, 'you’ll be getting a very beautiful restaurant to look after',� Gonzalez said.