(Photo: Quinte News)
A popular downtown Belleville restaurant will be closed for a while after Thursday’s damaging storms.
Roofing materials were blown up from three buildings at the north end of Front Street, including the one that houses the Chilangos restaurant.
Owner Marlem Power says she and her staff are busy saving as much food as they can and also preparing food packages to give to the Grace Inn for the homeless.
Belleville City Council officials are working with the building owner to determine the best way to make repairs to the roof and it is unknown how long the restaurant will have to close.
Chilangos employs about 40 people and Power hopes they can find ways to keep their business afloat.
In addition to Canadians and native students, Chilangos employs people from Colombia, Guatemala, India and the Philippines.
Power says the mayor and other city officials quickly contacted her for help in the aftermath of the storm damage, as was the Belleville Chamber of Commerce.
However, he was disappointed that he had not heard a word from any BIA member or staff of the downtown district until Saturday, adding that his restaurant had brought many people to the center for the past 10 years.