CINCINNATI -- Tucker's, the iconic Vine Street diner in business for nearly 70 years, will reopen almost exactly a year after a kitchen fire forced it to close last summer.
Volunteers have helped owners Joe and Carla Tucker come up with a plan to be back in business July 25, according to an event the restaurant posted on its Facebook page.
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Cincinnati firefighters were called to the diner just north of Liberty Street on July 27, 2015; an employee forgot to turn off a stove, and the subsequent fire left the Tuckers with a roughly $65,000 repair bill, far more than originally estimated.
Since then, long-time customers have rallied to raise money for the neighborhood institution; gift cards are still available -- in denominations of $25, $50 and $100 -- to help with rebuilding costs. They can be redeemed once the restaurant reopens.
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Another fundraiser is planned for Feb. 28, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at St. Francis Seraph School. For $15 per person, diners can get some of their favorite brunch dishes from the restaurant, including biscuits and gravy and deluxe homefries.
Also, a GoFundMe campaign has raised more than $17,000 toward repair costs, helping the Tuckers get started on hiring an architect and a general contractor.
Tucker's will celebrate its 70th anniversary in September. While it's known for its hearty breakfasts, the diner was the first Cincinnati restaurant to put tartar sauce on a burger, The Big Tucker -- not the more famous Big Boy sandwich at the Frisch's chain.
