Joe's to reopen

The Joe's Back in the Day Diner in Tucumcari, which closed two years ago after its owner underwent surgery, will reopen in a few weeks.

If the owner has any say, it will be like it never went away.

"It will be the same menu as before," manager and owner Joseph Ysco said in a phone interview last week. "I'm excited."

Ysco announced on social media last week the restaurant would reopen.

Joe's Back in the Day Diner, at 321 E. Route 66 Blvd., served Mexican and American dishes.

Ysco said the restaurant would hire at least four people when it's open.

Ysco closed Joe's two years ago when he had to undergo surgery. Complications after the procedure kept him from reopening as quickly as he would have liked. Joe's had been operating for about three years before the closing.

Ysco said Joe's didn't have profitability issues at the time.

"It was running fine," he said.

He said Russell Gleason, who hails from Albuquerque, would be the chef when it reopens in May. An exact date hasn't been set.

Ysco said the natural-gas line to the restaurant was reinstalled last week. He said the building remains in good condition despite the closure.

"All we have to do is order the food and do some basic cleanup," he said.

Once open, Ysco said Joe's Back in the Day Diner would operate from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays.