Caution tape across Walter's Restaurant Friday morning.
A large fire blazed through the roof of the historic Walter’s Restaurant early Thursday morning. Captain Daniel Trevizo of the Los Angeles Fire Department told the Claremont Courier that the blaze may have been due to a malfunctioning air-conditioning unit. No one was injured.
Having recently celebrated its 50th birthday, Walter’s is an iconic fixture of Claremont Village. The restaurant is frequented by members of the Claremont Colleges community for class dinners and formal events.
Walter’s faces “extensive water damage and roof damage from fire fighting functions” according to the City of Claremont’s building and safety inspector. The fire appears to have primarily damaged the attic and roof of the restaurant, leaving the dining areas untouched.
Laila A. Ghafarshad, the daughter in-law of the owners, posted in a Claremont Facebook group that the restaurant “will be closed until further notice.”
Walter’s previously burned to the ground in 1987. The rebuild led to its expansion from a coffee shop to a full-service restaurant.