Wayne Chili's Could Reopen Summer 2012

The Wayne Chili's that was destroyed by a will likely be rebuilt with an eye on a summer 2012 reopening, the owner of the property told Radnor Patch.

"Their plan is to rebuild, that's what they've told me initially," said Sam Pilotti, the owner Metric Realty in Paoli, which owns the Lancaster Avenue property that was home to Chili's and 20 other local properties. "But I won't know for sure until the end of November."

The Wayne Chili's is not a corporately-owned location and the franchisee, who didn't respond to Radnor Patch's interview request, has until a November deadline to either use the insurance money to reconstruct the restaurant or hand the property and the money back to Pilotti.

Pilotti said the tenant has five years remaining on their lease, but that while the fire didn't nullify the contract, if they choose to leave now rather than oversee the rebuild and reopening, there would be no early termination penalty.

"Their plan is to rebuild though, and I'm inclined to think that's their final decision," he said.

Pilotti also emphasised that the summer 2012 reopening is an estimate, albeit an educated one, and is subject to building permits, township decisions, and numerous other variables.

"It could be sooner though," he added.

The four-alarm fire, started by a contractor who was improperly using a propane torch, and which left no one injured, was not a first for a Pilotti property.

"Well, I've had fires before. I had the fire at Performance Bikes, which we have in Paoli."

He said the August blaze was the first of its kind, though.

"I manage a lot of properties, but this is the first restaurant fire that I've had after 26 years," he said, adding that he hopes it's his last.