Tru Jamaica reopens after three-year fire recovery

WACO, Texas (KWTX) - After nearly three years, a Waco Jamaican restaurant is welcoming customers back to its original location following a devastating fire that forced the business to operate from alternative venues.

Tru Jamaica reopened Wednesday on Taylor Street, marking the end of a long journey that saw the restaurant survive by operating from a food truck and briefly inside the Hippodrome theater. The restaurant held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate its return to the location where it had built its reputation before a 2022 electrical fire left the building unfit for service.

The fire that closed the restaurant was caused by a faulty electrical outlet, according to Charles. Despite the setback, the business maintained its customer base through its food truck operations at Baylor University and temporarily at the Hippodrome, before parking the food truck outside the restaurant’s original location.

Owner Aniceto Charles Jr. said the setback tested his resilience but never shook his determination to rebuild.

“Going to a food truck, to a historic theatre, back to a food truck, it’s a test,” Charles Jr. said.

Charles had hoped to reopen sooner, but said clarifying city requirements for the new building took longer than expected.

“There was a little confusion about some of the requirements. But that’s behind us. We’re looking towards the future,” he said.

The owner, who moved to Waco from Northern Virginia, said his faith sustained him through the challenging period.

“I never wavered. I knew we were going to reopen. The Lord didn’t bring me here from Northern Virginia to not succeed,” Charles Jr. said.

The reconstructed restaurant offers improvements over the original location. Charles said customers can expect a cozier atmosphere with the same quality service, plus new bar seating. He also plans to add a drive-thru as soon as next year.

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